Directed Orchestration of Microfluidic Environments for guided Self-organisation

Introduction

In Europe, 263 per 10,000 pregnancies are diagnosed with a fetal congenital anomaly. Congenital anomalies, also referred to as birth defects, are defined as structural or functional disorders that occur during fetal development and are inherited, and/or caused by environmental factors.

Problem Statement

Unfortunately, the link between environmental factors, such as drugs, toxins, or other chemicals, and the manifestation of these multifactorial disorders is poorly understood. To identify environmental factors affecting tissue and organogenesis and study their pathogenic mechanisms, new 3D in vitro models with reliable and highly reproducible architecture are urgently needed.

Current Limitations

None of the current cell culture systems available can provide the controlled environment needed to sufficiently guide the self-organization process of stem cell-based 3D in vitro models.

Solution: DOMES Platform

Our new microfluidic platform, DOMES, is the first of its kind, combining precise control over morphogenetic processes with standardized and user-friendly handling. In this project, we will exemplarily focus on congenital diseases of the kidney, in particular the collecting duct system.

Research Focus

We will analyze on-chip the impact of specific environmental compounds, such as drugs and endocrine disruptors, on the branching morphogenesis of the collecting duct.

Broader Applications

DOMES is a product family of microfluidic 3D cell culture chips which will allow the control and study not only of kidney organoids, but of other 3D cell models including:

• Lung organoids
• Neural organoids
• Gut organoids
• Embryoid bodies

This is the first instance of a cell culture platform allowing direct orchestration of the microfluidic environment for guiding self-organization, symmetry breaking, and organogenesis. It represents a paradigm shift in researchers' ability to study the development of organs and their congenital anomalies in vitro.