Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 8, 2026
Accessible Silicone Chip-to-Membrane Sealing Procedure for Flexible, Reliable Bonding
Published on: March 20, 2026
Accessible Silicone Chip-to-Membrane Sealing Procedure for Flexible, Reliable Bonding
Brady Rae1, Jhon A Ramirez2, Irene H Heijink3
1Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, EXPIRE Lab, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen; GRIAC Research Institute, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen; b.r.rae-pinchen@umcg.nl.
Researchers developed a novel, leak-free sealing method for organ-on-chip devices using Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) mortar. This accessible workflow enables in-house Airway-on-Chip fabrication with various membranes, promoting wider adoption of this technology.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Tissue Engineering
- Microfluidics
Background:
- Organ-on-Chip (OOC) platforms are advancing biomedical research, yet device fabrication, particularly secure sealing, remains a challenge for new researchers.
- Current OOC technologies face hurdles in achieving reliable, leak-free seals between chip components and culture membranes.
- The growing diversity of OOC devices necessitates accessible and robust sealing methodologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel, accessible workflow for creating secure and leak-free seals in Organ-on-Chip devices.
- To enable the fabrication of Airway-on-Chip models using Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and various culture membranes.
- To provide a reproducible method for researchers with limited resources to develop OOC platforms.
Main Methods:
- A new chip sealing workflow using vacuum-thinned Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) mortar to create a thin, strong silicone coat.
- Room temperature curing of PDMS mortar to prevent membrane disruption from thermal expansion.
- Development of two chip mold 3D designs for binding silicone chips to plastic membranes and extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds.
Main Results:
- The procedure successfully produced reliable, water-tight connections between PDMS chips and multiple membrane materials (plastic and ECM).
- The method resulted in an air-liquid interface (ALI) suitable for cell culture applications like Airway-on-Chip.
- In-house fabrication of multi-chambered PDMS chips with integrated culture membranes was demonstrated.
Conclusions:
- The presented sealing procedure offers a broadly applicable and accessible technique for OOC device fabrication.
- This method overcomes common sealing challenges, facilitating the development of functional Airway-on-Chip models.
- The room temperature curing and PDMS mortar approach enhance the reliability and versatility of OOC platforms.
