Integrated Microfluidic Culture Media Oxygenator for Organ-on-a-Chip Applications

Abstract

Microphysiological systems (MPS) are in vitro platforms for the culture of human cells in a manner that closely mimics the in vivo physiological microenvironment. Oxygen is a key element for maintaining cell viability and function in MPS devices. Thus, this thesis presents the design, fabrication, and testing of a microfluidic oxygenator chip, or "Oxychip", for providing control of oxygen concentration in MPS cell culture media. The oxygenation mechanism of the device features a serpentine fluidic channel that contacts a pneumatic pocket through a gas permeable membrane, to allow for oxygen exchange between the liquid media and the gas in the pneumatic compartment. Additionally, the Oxychip integrates the oxygenator module with an on-board micropump, pressure regulator, culture media reservoir, and oxygen probe interface, in a compact 40 x 25 mm microfluidic chip. To validate the functionality of the device, a series of three experiments were conducted in which oxygen partial pressure within circulating fluid media was monitored using oxygen probes, and rapid deoxygenation and re-oxygenation of fluid media was demonstrated.