3D Printed Organs-on-a-Chip
This research explores how light-based 3D printing can transform organ-on-chip (OoC) device fabrication, making OoCs more accessible to biomedical researchers. Compared to traditional soft lithography and PDMS molding, 3D printing simplifies fabrication, enables complex 3D geometries, and integrates functional components directly into devices. We optimize materials, post-processing, and design to overcome resolution limits and match PDMS performance, while also developing new OoC device classes uniquely enabled by 3D printing.
Highlight 1: Anatomically Authentic MPS Devices
We are developing 3D-printed organ-on-chip models of tubular organs, including cardiovascular and respiratory networks, that combine anatomical realism, physiological flow, and cellular responses in a single platform. We harness patient CT scans to print accurate artery structures, and combine these with soft-robotics to generate deformable, pulsatile models with disease-relevant hemodynamic forces. By capturing the interplay between structure, dynamics, and biology, we aim to create more predictive systems for drug, device, and therapy development.
Highlight 2: One-Step 3D-Printed Barrier-on-Chip Platforms
We are developing next-generation barrier-on-chip devices that replace manually aligned porous membranes with fully integrated, single-step 3D-printed architectures. By fabricating the entire device—including the porous epithelial support—in one build, our approach streamlines cell seeding, improves reproducibility, and enables more complex airway, gut, and other barrier models.
