Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 28, 2025
18:11
Microfluidic Chips Controlled with Elastomeric Microvalve Arrays
Published on: October 1, 2007
21.2K
Portable and integrated microfluidic flow control system using off-the-shelf components towards organs-on-chip
Haoyu Zhu1, Gürhan Özkayar1, Joost Lötters1,2,3
1Department of Precision and Microsystems Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, Zuid-Holland, 2628CD, Delft, The Netherlands.
Biomedical Microdevices
|June 2, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed a compact, integrated fluidic system for organ-on-a-chip (OoC) experiments using off-the-shelf parts and 3D printing. This portable system enables precise media control for lung-on-a-chip applications, overcoming previous limitations in portability and integration.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Microfluidics
- Bioengineering
Background:
- Organ-on-a-chip (OoC) devices require precise media control, but current fluidic systems are bulky and lack integration, hindering portability.
- Existing fluidic setups often involve numerous external components and tubing, limiting their application in diverse experimental settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the integration limits of fluidic systems for OoC devices using readily available components.
- To develop a compact, portable, and integrated fluidic control platform for OoC applications, specifically demonstrated for lung-on-a-chip experiments.
Main Methods:
- Utilized off-the-shelf fluidic control components, including a vacuum pump, switch valve, and flow/pressure controllers.
- Employed 3D printing to fabricate a custom platform box for component integration, enabling flexible arrangement and system customization.
- Designed a flow control configuration leveraging vacuum to achieve fluctuation-free flow and minimize component count.
Main Results:
- Successfully constructed a demonstrator system for lung-on-a-chip experiments, measuring 290x240x37 mm and weighing 4.8 kg.
- The system supports liquid flow rates from 1.5 to 68 µL/min and applies cyclic vacuum (280 mbar at 0.5 Hz) for mechanical cell stimulation.
- The battery-operated, modular system is compatible with standard microscopes and incubators, demonstrating enhanced portability and ease of use.
Conclusions:
- A compact, integrated, and portable fluidic system for OoC experiments can be realized using standard, off-the-shelf components and 3D printing.
- Further miniaturization of fluidic control components (pumps, valves, flow controllers) is necessary for achieving even smaller OoC systems with high-resolution flow control.
