An innovative microfluidic system for testing chemical compounds (specifically drugs) on human and animal cells.

Can in vivo conditions be replicated in a laboratory?

The internal environment of a living organism is extremely complex, which is why traditional laboratory-based biological experiments do not always deliver accurate results. Cells that build individual tissues are suspended in an extracellular matrix, and the exchange of all substances (such as nutrients, signaling compounds, and metabolic products) between cells and their environment usually occurs via diffusion. How can microfluidics be replicated under in vitro conditions?

To achieve this, a miniature cell culture device was developed by an interdisciplinary team of experts in biomedical engineering, chemistry, and automation, led by Assoc. Prof. Sebastian Student, PhD, Eng. (Professor at the Silesian University of Technology) from the Department of Systems Engineering and Biology. The system features dedicated microchambers where cells are cultured in a hydrogel that physically resembles the extracellular matrix, mimicking their natural growth environment. This technology can be used for applications such as testing new pharmaceuticals. As part of a Proof of Concept project funded by the European Funds for a Modern Economy 2021–2027 (FENG) through the Foundation for Polish Science, the researcher and his team plan to adapt this device for mass production requirements.

"The device we developed allows for cell culture in microchambers, single-cell observation, and studying the impact of various substances - including drugs - on cells, all within an environment that closely resembles living organisms thanks to cell immobilization in a specialized hydrogel matrix. Crucially, due to its design, our device ensures a continuous exchange of the culture medium surrounding the cells by leveraging diffusion. The hydrogel used as the cell-surrounding matrix is thermosensitive and undergoes a phase transition at around 30°C. This allows a cell suspension to be prepared at room temperature and injected into the incubation chambers of the microfluidic device, followed by non-invasive encapsulation of the cells within a porous hydrogel matrix via thermogelling upon placement at the incubation temperature of 37°C. Thanks to a specially designed membrane, different types of human cells can be cultured in close proximity within the microdevice, enabling the study of cell-to-cell interactions in the presence of a drug. Another key advantage is the ability to precisely control parameters such as temperature and carbon dioxide concentration. Microfluidic technology allows us to study cell behavior under conditions that are impossible to achieve using macroscopic tools. The system enables real-time observation and automatic image recording via live-cell imaging," explains Prof. Sebastian Student.

Work is currently underway to adapt the microfluidic platform for serial production. To this end, the interdisciplinary research team will design and manufacture a prototype system using PMMA - an industry-standard, readily available polymer commonly known as acrylic or Plexiglas. The action plan includes building a microdevice for drug testing and cell microenvironment analysis, developing a numerical model of the diffusion process, creating flow-control software, synthesizing and characterizing the thermosensitive hydrogel, as well as conducting a series of biological experiments and comprehensive data analysis. The numerical model will allow virtual testing of the system prior to commercial manufacturing.

"Our technology can be applied across broad biomedical research - far beyond observing cell responses to administered drugs - contributing to the development of personalized medicine and helping reduce the need for animal testing," summarizes Prof. Sebastian Student.

Sebastian Student, PhD, DSc, Eng., Assoc. Prof. at SUT, is a biomedical engineer. He earned his PhD and habilitation degrees from the Faculty of Automatic Control, Electronics and Computer Science at the Silesian University of Technology. His scientific work focuses on applying biomedical engineering tools and concepts to build diagnostic and therapeutic systems for modern lifestyle diseases. He has authored or co-authored 195 publications and received numerous accolades, including the 2023 Silesian Science Award. For earlier research on the microfluidic device for cell culture and drug testing, he and his team were awarded the Silesian Innovator award, a Gold Medal at INTARG, and a distinction in the "Innovations and Implementations" category of the 3rd "Perspectives of Medicine" competition. Since 2024, he has served as Director of the Biotechnology Center at the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice.