Next generation organ-chip models - integrating 3D mechano-predictive environments

The project focuses on developing, validating and adopting 3D matrix environments within organ-chip models to explore the impact of local physical cell environment on phenotype and response to biochemical challenges.

It will explore how inflammation and degeneration can be modulated by the physical cell niche within organ-chip environments, designing and building 3D matrices of different stiffness and architecture to explore the impact on cell behaviour and the initiation of inflammatory, degradatory cell pathways.

An organ-chip is a micro-scale engineered system, recreating the architecture, functions and physiochemical environment of living human organs, enabling an in vitro exploration of organ health, drivers of disease, and enabling the testing of new therapeutics.

The importance of the technology for driving 3R initiatives has led to very significant industrial interest, as organ-chips have clear potential to revolutionise the pharmaceutical industry.

Organ-chips are already been used to explore drug toxicity and to support vaccine research, However, challenges remain in engineering the complex 3D cell niches seen in structural organs of the body, where externally applied mechanics heavily impact phenotype and disease state within an organ.