Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: Construction, evaluation, and applications of renal barrier-on-a-chip system

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2025.12.032

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A) Co-culturing hiPSC-derived tubular cells with immortalized cells in a flow-based OoC resulted in a 2-fold higher TEER compared to static co-cultures(a) Evaluation by the TEER evolution with culture time for the RPTEC-only and coculture tissue layers. (b) Time course of reported resistances of the RPTEC-only (blue circles), bilayer (red squares), and HUVEC-only (green triangles) tissue layers .(B) Microfluidic organ-on-a-chip device reconstitutes kidney glomerular capillary function in vitro. (a) Quantification of the glomerular filtration (urinary clearance) of albumin and inulin molecules that were continuously infused over 6 h into the capillary channel of the glomerulus chip that was lined by hiPS-cell-derived podocytes and human glomerular endothelial cells. (b) Filtration of albumin and inulin in control microfluidic chips without human kidney podocytes quantified over 6 h of continuous infusion using the methods described above. RPTECs, renal proximal tubular epithelial cells . (C) Cyclosporine and cisplatin toxicity are reversed by SGLT2 inhibition. (a) Schematic of glucose transport in proximal tubule cells and mechanism of nephroprotective effect of empagliflozin (gliflozin). (b) Fluorescent glucose analog and lipid accumulation in 3D cysts exposed to cyclosporine or cisplatin in the presence or absence of empagliflozin . (D) Reactive oxygen species production of glomerular cells after exposure to high glucose conditions at different concentrations . (E) Assessment of the filtration capacity of RPTEC tissue showing the effects of HUVECs and flow induced shear stress. (a) Transfer rates of the glucose probe, 2NBDG measured in static and perfused culture conditions. Both reabsorption (a → b) and reverse transfer rates (b → a) were quantified. (b) Fluorescent confocal z-stacked images of the RPTEC tissue layer in bilayer and single layer configurations. A considerably higher amount of BSA was precipitated in the basolateral milieu of RPTECs in the bilayer system indicating a higher intake of the substrate .

Article Snippet: , Enabled high-throughput screening of drug-transporter interactions in a 3D microfluidic tubule model. , Mimetas OrganoPlate platform (384-well format); collagen I gel channel. , Conditionally immortalized human proximal tubule cells (ciPTEC-OAT1) , Expressed OAT1, OCT2, P-gp, MRP2/4; validated P-gp substrate efflux function. , Early-stage drug transporter interaction screening; high-throughput toxicity assessment. , [ ] .

Techniques: Derivative Assay, In Vitro, Filtration, Control, Inhibition, Shear

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: Construction, evaluation, and applications of renal barrier-on-a-chip system

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2025.12.032

Figure Lengend Snippet: Representative Renal Barrier Chip Designs. (A) RGD peptide functionalization of PEEK surfaces via a polydopamine coating improves biocompatibility and cell response . (B) Functionalization of PETE membranes for the enhancement of cellular adhesion in Organ-on-a-Chip devices . (C) A novel microfluidic platform that combines two plasma surface treatments: PAC and APPJ, enable reagent-free covalent immobilization of biomolecules is described here . (D) Stiffness-tunable gelatin-mTG hydrogel provides an ideal platform to study kidney podocyte mechanotransduction . (E) the modified photolithography and micromolding process used to prepare the micro-hemispherical “bubble” topography for podocyte cultivation . (F) MDCK cells are seeded on a fibronectin reservoir in front of a PDMS block containing cylindrical microtubes of different sizes. The cells start crawling into the openings of the microtubes once they are in full confluenc . (G) Design of microfluidic Organ Chip device to recapitulate the structure and function of the kidney glomerular capillary wall . (H) Design of the biologically inspired microfluidic extruded topographic hollow fiber (h-FIBER), consisting of a vessel-like perfusable tubular channel and a glomerulus-like knot with microconvex topography on its surface . (I) Fabrication of 3D VasPT Models via Sacrificial Printing . (J) Formation of channels in the chip via pre-placed inner pins, which are removed after matrix solidification . (K) Multiphoton-guided creation of 3D cellularized microvessels . (L) Schematic of the construction steps of the glomerulus chip, where bundles of hollow fibers were spherically twisted and embedded in designed Bowman's capsules to form spherical glomerular capillary tufts .

Article Snippet: , Enabled high-throughput screening of drug-transporter interactions in a 3D microfluidic tubule model. , Mimetas OrganoPlate platform (384-well format); collagen I gel channel. , Conditionally immortalized human proximal tubule cells (ciPTEC-OAT1) , Expressed OAT1, OCT2, P-gp, MRP2/4; validated P-gp substrate efflux function. , Early-stage drug transporter interaction screening; high-throughput toxicity assessment. , [ ] .

Techniques: Clinical Proteomics, Modification, Blocking Assay, Capsules

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: Construction, evaluation, and applications of renal barrier-on-a-chip system

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2025.12.032

Figure Lengend Snippet: Evaluation and Validation of Renal Barrier Models. (A) High-resolution electron microscopy analysis of tissue-specific phenotypes in the engineered glomerulus biomimetic microfluidic device . Red arrows indicate podocyte foot processes and formation of interdigitation-like organization, green arrows indicate formation of secondary and tertiary foot processes, and orange arrows indicate formation of short protrusions around the SF nanofibers. (B) PTECs and GMECs seeded in 3D VasPT tissues exhibit healthy and mature phenotypes. TEM and SEM micrographs showing densely packed PTEC microvilli that are ∼1.2 μm in height . (C) The podocyte lines form a continuous layer, distinguishable from the human glomerular endothelial cells layer in Organoplate™ . (D) Developing kidney organoids cultured in vitro under high fluid flow exhibit enhanced vascularization during nephrogenesis .

Article Snippet: , Enabled high-throughput screening of drug-transporter interactions in a 3D microfluidic tubule model. , Mimetas OrganoPlate platform (384-well format); collagen I gel channel. , Conditionally immortalized human proximal tubule cells (ciPTEC-OAT1) , Expressed OAT1, OCT2, P-gp, MRP2/4; validated P-gp substrate efflux function. , Early-stage drug transporter interaction screening; high-throughput toxicity assessment. , [ ] .

Techniques: Biomarker Discovery, Electron Microscopy, Cell Culture, In Vitro

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: Construction, evaluation, and applications of renal barrier-on-a-chip system

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2025.12.032

Figure Lengend Snippet: Representative Renal Barrier Applications. (A)A disease model of diabetic nephropathy in a glomerulus-on-a-chip microdevice. (a) GFB filtration dysfunction under high glucose conditions (b) Visualized images of migrated glomerular cells along with the GFB on 3D basement membrane in dynamic culture under high glucose conditions. The podocyte processes were observed to protrude into the 3D Matrigel over time. The white arrows represent the podocyte processes . (B) Validation of the hAKPC-P GOAC system as a diagnostic and drug screening platform. (a) The GOAC was exposed to serum from patients with other kidney diseases (FSGS, AS, PKD) to assess albumin permeability. (b) The GOAC was treated with MN serum in the presence or absence of the therapeutic drug α-MSH, and its effect on albumin leakage was evaluated . (C) Drug-induced nephrotoxicity tests of glomerulus and proximal tubule MPS. (a) Dynamic cellular images at 7 days after exposure to nephrotoxins in Drug-induced nephrotoxicity tests. (b) Glucose clearance (mL min−1) across all drug conditions . (D) Measurement of oxygen consumption rates of human renal proximal tubule cells in an array of organ-on-chip devices to monitor drug-induced metabolic shifts. (a) Bottom view of the O-MCP with 96 devices and a zoomed-in image of a single device. (b) Cross-section side view of an O-MCP device. (c) The O-MCP and corresponding measurement technique allowed single devices to be measured repeatedly or multiple devices to be measured sequentially . (E)Validation of targeted inhibition of URAT1 transporter by kaempferide based on a kidneyon-a-chip. a) Design and structure of the microfluidic chip.; b) 3D structure drawing and binding site prediction of the docking model of kaemperide and URAT1 . (F)An implantable bioreactor for renal cell therapy. (a) Bioreactor design and constituent components. (b) Relative positional relationship between the blood flow pathway and the cell culture region. c) High cell viability on cell inserts after 3- and 7- day implants .

Article Snippet: , Enabled high-throughput screening of drug-transporter interactions in a 3D microfluidic tubule model. , Mimetas OrganoPlate platform (384-well format); collagen I gel channel. , Conditionally immortalized human proximal tubule cells (ciPTEC-OAT1) , Expressed OAT1, OCT2, P-gp, MRP2/4; validated P-gp substrate efflux function. , Early-stage drug transporter interaction screening; high-throughput toxicity assessment. , [ ] .

Techniques: Filtration, Membrane, Biomarker Discovery, Diagnostic Assay, Drug discovery, Permeability, Inhibition, Binding Assay, Cell Culture

Journal: Biomedical Microdevices

Article Title: Thermoplastic elastomer based microfluidic gradient generator for cell culture and drug testing

doi: 10.1007/s10544-026-00816-y

Figure Lengend Snippet: Quantification of live cell percentages at various positions across the chamber for PDMS ( n = 4) and TPE ( n = 3) microfluidic devices

Article Snippet: In addition to two-stage bubble traps integrated into the main flow channels on chip, a microfluidic bubble trap (Peek Bubble trap, Elveflow, France) was incorporated inline in the tubing prior to the device inlet to prevent bubble entering the cell chamber during cell culture.

Techniques:

Journal: Open Research Europe

Article Title: Cell motility influences microfluidics capturing in scRNA-seq

doi: 10.12688/openreseurope.19781.2

Figure Lengend Snippet: Parasites were isolated from the blood of three mice six days post-infection and purified through chromatography. Half of the parasite suspension underwent fast cooling to 0 degrees, using dry ice and ethanol (QUENCHED), while the other half remained at room temperature (RT). Both sets of samples underwent encapsulation using the Chromium controller, followed by library preparation and sequencing as recommended by 10x Genomics.

Article Snippet: In this study we confirmed that encapsulating parasites at room temperature using the 10x Genomics microfluidic device does not induce changes in motility or morphology (Supplementary Videos 1–2 extended data).

Techniques: Isolation, Infection, Purification, Chromatography, Suspension, Encapsulation, Sequencing