Liver-on-a-chip model
Mimic the liver microenvironment in long term experiments
Relevant microenvironment
Improve your reproducibility with physiological culturing conditions
Up to 3-weeks long cultures
Automated and controlled supply of nutrients in a stable flow
Up to 4 parallel cultures
Test different conditions at the same time
Need a microfluidic SME partner for your Horizon Europe project?
Image credit: High-speed BCARS allows detailed mapping of specific components of tissue samples. A false-color BCARS image of mouse liver tissue (left) picks out cell nuclei in blue, collagen in orange and proteins in green. An image of tumor and normal brain tissue from a mouse (right) has been colored to show cell nuclei in blue, lipids in red and red blood cells in green. Images show an area about 200 micrometers across. Credit: Camp/NIST.
Why use liver-on-a-chip models?
The quest for more reproducible models to advance drug development and disease research is in full swing. Current animal models are known to have limitations when translating from preclinical to human trials, especially when considering effects on the liver.
A striking example is that almost half of the drugs found safe in established animal models were responsible for liver damage in clinical trials [1]. Thus, there are several approaches to improve translation between preclinical and clinical data, as illustrated in the table below [adapted from 1].
Every method has shortcomings, but liver-on-a-chip models offer the possibility to perform all the in vitro models, taking benefits from their advantages. As a new technology, there are no standards yet, and operating organ-on-a-chip systems requires specialized know-how. This is precisely what we are aiming to simplify with our platform.
Advantages and limitations of in-vitro liver models [1]
We have recently published a review about the different organ-on-a-chip models and current innovations.
References
1. Deng J, Wei W, Chen Z, Lin B, Zhao X. Engineered liver-on-a-chip platform to mimic liver functions and its biomedical applications: a review, Micromachines. 2019; 10(10):676. https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10100676
2. Shin JY, Park J, Jang HK, Lee TJ, La WG, Bhang SH, Kwon IK, Kwon OH, & Kim BS. Efficient formation of cell spheroids using polymer nanofibers. Biotechnology letters. 2012; 34(5):795–803. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-011-0836-9
3. Moriyama M, Sahara S, Zaiki K, Ueno A, Nakaoji K, Hamada K, Ozawa T, Tsuruta D, Hayakawa T, & Moriyama H. Adipose-derived stromal/stem cells improve epidermal homeostasis. Scientific reports. 2019; 9(1):18371. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-54797-5
How to culture a liver-on-a-chip model?
The pressure controller and the flow sensor control the media flow inside the chip according to your needs and parameters. The recirculation loop redirects the media between the reservoirs so your liver-on-chip model always receives enough nutrients while also being enriched with metabolites for later analysis. The level sensors are responsible for controlling which reservoir will empty first and ensuring that there is always media on top of your culture.
You can add your own proprietary chip to the system or commercial ones, as you prefer. This system is assembled as an automated platform that fits inside standard CO2 incubators and biosafety hoods.
The liver-on-a-chip pack includes:
Flow sensor (Galileo, MIC)
Recirculation loop
Level sensors
Software (Galileo user interface)
Flow controller
Several Falcon reservoirs
Tubings and fittings
Microfluidic chip of your choice (for example, Fluidic 480)
User guide
Check our automated cell culture platform for more details on an integrated approach!
Customize your pack
Our Packs can be modified depending on your specific needs. In this light, our microfluidic specialists will advise you on the best instruments and accessories based on your needs and will accompany you during the setup of the microfluidic platform.
Frequently asked questions
Can I order a pack?
Since Packs are products that are still being developed, we have a few eligibility criteria to maximize their success rate. A discussion with our experts is needed to determine your specific needs to offer you a personalized response.
Can the platform be sterilized/autoclaved?
The components of the cell culture platform can be sterilized. Our user guide provides detailed information on how to do it.
Can a pack be customized based on my specific application?
Yes! Our experts will establish which instruments are best suited for your application, such as the type of flow sensor or the number of flow controller channels you need to perform your experiment. Contact us using the “talk to our experts” green button above.
Can I buy individual instruments?
Our instruments are in beta testing phase and can be tested as a pack or individually, so get in contact with our team to know how our beta testing program works.
Funding and Support
The ALTERNATIVE and LIFESAVER projects helped develop this pack.
These projects are funded by the European Union’s H2020-LC-GD-2020-3, grant agreements No. 101037090 (ALTERNATIVE) and 101036702 (LIFESAVER).
Products & Associated Accessories
FAQ - Liver on a chip model
What does it mean by liver-on-a-chip? Why is it important?
A liver-on-a-chip is a microfluidic system that models the microenvironment in the liver in vitro, and under controlled flow conditions. It is important since the existing animal models have clearly reported shortcomings in hepatic prediction of human responses. Studies have shown that almost half of the drugs safe in conventional animal models proceeded to inflict liver damage in clinical studies – thus more predictive in vitro models are of high priority in the development of drugs.
What advantages does liver-on-a-chip have over traditional in vitro models?
Normal mono-culture of cells in standard cell cultures, and even more sophisticated methods like the spheroid, co-cultures, each has certain limitations in respect of duration, reproducibility, or physiological applicability. Liver-on-a-chip combines the strengths of both of these models and also overcomes their respective drawbacks, in particular, through the ability to perform long-term cultures under continuous, automated, and physiological flow conditions of the nutrient supply.
How many years can the cultures be kept on this platform?
Cultures supported through the platform have a maximum of three weeks. Such a long period is achieved through an automated recirculatory system which provides a continuous replenishment of fresh media to the chip, and so, cells obtain sufficient nutrients as metabolites are deposited in reservoirs to be analyzed later.
What is the number of experiments conditions that can be operated simultaneously?
There are four parallel cultures supported by the system. This ability enables the researcher to run many conditions in one experimental run, including various drug concentrations, cells, or times, enhancing throughput and decreasing inter-experimental variability.
How does the flow management system work?
The platform has a pressure controller and a flow sensor to control the media flow through the chip based on user-defined parameters. The media circulates through a recirculation loop to all the reservoirs so that the model is fed through a constant supply of nutrients. In long-term cultures, level sensors control the volume of each reservoir and ensure that they empty first in case of any disruption in the media supply.
What is contained in the liver-on-a-chip pack?
A flow sensor (Galileo, MIC), recirculation loop with check valves, level sensors, flow controller, a series of Falcon reservoirs, tubing and fittings, Galileo user interface software, user guide, and a choice of microfluidic chip of the researchers choice, such as the Fluidic 480 membrane chip of Microfluidic Chipshop, are included in the pack.
Am I allowed to use my own chip or a chip of some other supplier?
Yes. The system is to be able to support both commercially available chips by various suppliers and proprietary or custom devices. The connector type and chip geometry can have specific adaptors needed. At the configuration stage MIC specialists can give advice regarding compatibility.
Is the sterilization of the platform components possible?
Yes. The entire cell culture platform is compatible with sterilization measures. The user guide that goes with the pack contains a detailed procedure of how to sterilize and wash the system.
What is the way to order the pack?
This pack is still in the beta-testing part and it would need a preliminary discussion with our experts to find out the eligibility and the configuration which fits best in your application. The beta program can also be used to test individual instruments. You can contact us using the button “Get a quote” above.
