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TapeTech microfluidic connectors: adhesive tape-enabled solution for organ-on-a-chip system integration
Terry Ching1,2,3, Abraham C I van Steen1,2,3, Delaney Gray-Scherr1,2,3
1Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA. chencs@bu.edu.
Lab on a Chip
|February 5, 2025
Summary
TapeTech microfluidics offers a flexible solution to the "world-to-chip" fluid delivery problem, simplifying organ-on-a-chip experiments with adaptable tape-based connectors. This innovation reduces setup time and enhances sterility for high-throughput research.
Area of Science:
- Microfluidics
- Biotechnology
- Materials Science
Background:
- The "world-to-chip" problem, efficient fluid delivery from macro to microscale, remains a challenge in microfluidics.
- Current rigid tubing and connectors are cumbersome, error-prone, and limit high-throughput applications.
- Organ-on-a-chip (OoC) applications require stable fluid dynamics and sterile environments, often hindered by integration difficulties.
Purpose of the Study:
- Introduce TapeTech microfluidics, a novel flexible solution to address the "world-to-chip" integration challenge.
- Demonstrate TapeTech's utility in simplifying fluidic connections for microfluidic devices, especially OoC.
- Promote wider adoption of microfluidic technology by reducing design and setup complexities.
Main Methods:
- Developed TapeTech, a system using adhesive tape and thin-film polymers for integrated multi-channel ribbon connectors.
- Designed connectors to be flexible, allowing them to adapt to device geometries like Petri dish lids.
- Tested TapeTech for fluidic integration with pumps and reservoirs, assessing features like pressure surges, priming, and setup time.
Main Results:
- TapeTech provides a streamlined, flexible, and scalable solution for fluidic integration in microfluidics.
- Key features include reduced pressure surges, easy priming, rapid setup, and multiplexing capabilities.
- Demonstrated successful application in organ-on-a-chip cultures, real-time microscopy, and well-plate medium exchange.
Conclusions:
- TapeTech microfluidics effectively solves the "world-to-chip" problem, enhancing OoC research and other microfluidic applications.
- The technology simplifies fluidic integration, improves sterility, and increases transportability of microfluidic setups.
- TapeTech's accessibility is expected to accelerate microfluidic technology adoption in research laboratories.
