Organ-on-Chip platform for Vascularized Brain Organoids: chip fabrication and transient membrane optimization

The human brain presents significant challenges when studying its development, disorders, and drug efficacy, driving demand for in vitro 3D human brain models. Although various protocols for cultivating cortical brain organoids exist, they often face the issue of necrotic core formation due to lack of vascularization, hindering nutrient delivery. We propose to vascularize brain organoids using an Organ-on-Chip platform with a biodegradable membrane. The designed platform features a central chamber to grow an adherent cortical brain organoid and a surrounding gel and media channels to culture an iPSCs-derived 3D vascular network. A transient membrane separates the cultures, enabling culture interaction only when their developmental times are complete.

Assignment

The project consists of two main points:

•        The fabrication of the chip in PDMS through cleanroom-based fabrication techniques (photolithography, etching, PDMS casting, bonding).

•        The optimization of the transient membrane: a thermoreversible hydrogel (DA-Pluronic F127) whose properties are still to be investigated.

This project is part of the Netherland-Organ-on-Chip-Initiative (NOCI).

Contact

Last modified: 2025-02-25