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Biomimetic Mammary Gland Organoid-on-a-Chip for Producing Selected Human Milk Components
Xiang Lin1,2, Yi Cheng1, Junqi Zhao1,3
1Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.
Research (Washington, D.C.)
|July 23, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a biomimetic mammary gland-on-a-chip to produce milk bioactive components. This innovative system offers a sustainable solution for indoor dairy production, addressing future food challenges.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Bioengineering
- Food Science
Background:
- Milk is a vital nutrient source, but sustainable indoor production of milk components is challenging.
- Current methods for producing milk-associated bioactive components face limitations in efficiency and sustainability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a biomimetic mammary gland-on-a-chip system for producing milk-associated bioactive components.
- To create a sustainable and efficient indoor dairy production platform.
Main Methods:
- Designed a microfluidic chip mimicking mammary gland structure and lactation.
- Utilized a porous hydrogel layer for substance diffusion and microchambers for cell culture.
- Cultured mammary epithelial cells to form tight junctions and secrete bioactive components.
Main Results:
- The mammary gland-on-a-chip successfully recapitulated structural features and lactation mechanisms.
- Achieved active secretion of milk bioactive components, including lactoferrin and triglycerides.
- Demonstrated scalability by expanding microchambers and parallelizing chips for increased yield.
Conclusions:
- Developed a robust microphysiological system for mammary gland research.
- The chip system shows promise for in vitro production of milk-associated bioactive components.
- This technology offers potential solutions for future food and environmental crises.
