Directed Orchestration of Microfluidic Environments for guided Selforganisation
| Title | Directed Orchestration of Microfluidic Environments for guided Selforganisation |
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| Acronym | DOMES |
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| End date | |
| Sponsor | European Research Council - Proof of Concept (ERC-PoC) |
| Institution | Maastricht University |
Associated cell lines
- CCHMCi001-A (72.3, 72_3, CVCL_A1BW, iPSC 72.3, iPSC 72_3, iPSC72.3, iPSC72_3)
- CCHMCi002-A (115.1, 115_1, CVCL_C1U9, iPSC 115.1, iPSC 115_1, iPSC115.1, iPSC115_1)
- LUMCi004-A (LUMC0099iCTRL04)
- LUMCi029-A (LUMC0072iCTRL01)
- WAe009-A (H9, WA09)
Project Description
In Europe, 263 per 10,000 pregnancies are diagnosed with a fetal congenital anomaly. Congenital anomalies, also referred to as birth defects, are defined as structural or functional disorders that occur during fetal development and are inherited, and/or caused by environmental factors. Unfortunately, the link between environmental factors, such as drugs, toxins or other chemicals, and the manifestation of these multifactorial disorders is poorly understood. To identify environmental factors affecting tissue and organogenesis and study their pathogenic mechanisms, new 3D in vitro models with reliable and highly reproducible architecture are urgently needed. None of the current cell culture systems available can provide the controlled environment needed to sufficiently guide the self-organization process of stem cell-based 3D in vitro models. Our new microfluidic platform, DOMES, is the first of its kind, combining precise control over morphogenetic processes with standardized and user-friendly handling. In this project, we will exemplarily focus on congenital diseases of the kidney, in particular the collecting duct system. We will analyse on-chip the impact of specific environmental compounds, such as drugs and endocrine disruptors, on the branching morphogenesis of the collecting duct. DOMES is a product family of microfluidic 3D cell culture chips which will allow the control and study not only of kidney organoids, but of other 3D cell models including lung, neural, gut organoids and embryoid bodies. This is the first instance of a cell culture platform allowing direct orchestration of the microfluidic environment for guiding self-organisation, symmetry breaking and organogenesis, and represents a paradigm shift in researchers ability to study development of organs and their congenital anomalies in vitro.