Researcher(s)
- Victoria McKeown, Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware
Faculty Mentor(s)
- Jason Gleghorn, Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware
Abstract
Modeling the cervicovaginal region is challenging due to its complex array of components. This includes interactions between epithelial cells, immune cells, and microbes, which are important for understanding mucosal immunity, and reproductive biology. Microfluidics is emerging as a valuable tool for enhancing the complexity of in vitro models, as it enables dynamic control of physiological conditions that are typically difficult to replicate statically. Current models lack the complexity of the ECM and shear stress and its impact on cells. Our lab developed a device consisting of two vertically-stacked channels separated by a semipermeable membrane to incorporate flow. The overall goal of this project was to incorporate a tunable microenvironment through a collagen hydrogel layer added to the device that will eventually allow for the study of cell-cell and cell-microenvironment interactions. Furthermore, we focused on the creation of a pipeline of production in the lab for the democratization and simplified use of our device by our collaborators. This project tested the success of polydopamine as a surface functionalization method for hydrogel attachment and hydrogel integrity in the device in static and flow conditions. The collagen hydrogel in the polydopamine coated insert and membrane held up in flow conditions at 300 μL/min for 7 hours, while the collagen without the coating wicks off at 5 minutes. Streamlining the production process allows broader applicability and usability in collaborative research. With complete assembly time taking over 1 hour by pre-assembling the bottom and middle ply of the inserts production time of an insert now only takes approximately 5-10 minutes and requires less specific placement within its cassette to undergo flow. Future studies will track cell morphology changes due to flow.