An LCD 3D-printed microphysiological system with deflectable extracellular matrix thin films

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Microphysiological systems (MPS) offer improved in vivo microenvironment recapitulation.
• Current MPS manufacturing methods often limit scalability and complex 3D architectures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a scalable and versatile 3D-printed microphysiological system (MPS).
• To incorporate microfluidic flow, cyclic strain, and a permeable extracellular matrix (ECM) substrate.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) 3D printing for fabrication.
• Integrated microfluidic channels and a thin, permeable ECM substrate (~5 µm dehydrated, ~70 kDa permeability).
• Sustained NCI-H441 lung epithelial cells on the substrate for over one week.

Main Results:

• Successfully fabricated an MPS with microfluidic flow and cyclic strain capabilities.
• Demonstrated the substrate's permeability and ability to support lung epithelial cell viability for extended periods.
• Confirmed resistance to rhodamine absorption, indicating material stability.

Conclusions:

• LCD 3D printing provides a scalable strategy for advanced MPS fabrication.
• The developed MPS platform can be adapted for various organ systems.
• This approach enables the creation of MPS with intricate designs for enhanced biological research.