Design, additive manufacturing, and characterization of an organ-on-chip microfluidic device for oral mucosa analogue growth

Abstract

Introduction

Α customized organ-on-a-chip microfluidic device was developed for dynamic culture of oral mucosa equivalents (Oral_mucosa_chip-OMC).

Materials and methods

Additive Manufacturing (AM) was performed via stereolithography (SLA) printing. The dimensional accuracy was evaluated via microfocus computed tomography (mCT), the surface characteristics via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while the mechanical properties via nanoindentation and compression tests. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) optimized net forces towards the culture area. An oral mucosa equivalent comprising a multilayered epithelium derived by culture of TR146 cells at the air-liquid interface (ALI) and a lamina propria-analogue based on a collagen-I/fibrin hydrogel was maintained under ultra-precise flow conditions.

Results

An open-type device concept encompassing two interconnected chambers for long-term dynamic culture was developed and characterized for AM parameters, mechanical and biological properties. The split-inlet flow channel architecture allowed even distribution and symmetric flow velocity to the culture area. Cell viability exceeded 90%, while mCT and SEM indicated the 0° building angle as the most accurate SLA condition. CFD further showed that the 0° and 30° building angles most accurately reproduced the channel flow velocity predicted by the initial CAD model.

Conclusion

This study developed a customized, easy-to-produce, and cell-friendly OMC device, providing a 3D tool for biocompatibility assessment of biomaterials.