Collagen I Based Enzymatically Degradable Membranes for Organ-on-a-Chip Barrier Models

Organs-on-chips are microphysiological in vitro models of human organs and tissues that rely on culturing cells a well-controlled microenvironment has been engineered to include key physical biochemical parameters. Some systems contain single perfused microfluidic channel or patterned hydrogel, whereas more complex devices typically employ two microchannels separated by porous membrane, simulating the tissue interface found many organ subunits. The membranes made synthetic biologically inert materials then coated with extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules enhance cell attachment. However, majority material remains foreign fails recapitulate native barrier tissue. Here, we study integrate vitrified membrane collagen-I hydrogel (VC). biocompatibility this was confirmed growing healthy population stem derived endothelial (iPSC-EC) immortalized retinal pigment epithelium (ARPE-19) it assessing morphology fluorescence microscopy. Moreover, VC were subjected degradation using collagenase II. effects characterized permeability changes fluorescein. Topographical after enzymatic also analyzed scanning electron Altogether, present dynamically bioresponsive integrated an organ-on-chip device which disease-related ECM remodeling can be studied.