We’ve long speculated that adding fluid flow over our tissue models would reduce the concentration of pro-inflammatory factors secreted in response to inflammatory challenges, dampening the overall inflammatory state compared to static culture. We now have evidence that this is true and the results are important as benchmarks for our future studies. In response to…
Isabelle Linares_MPS World Summit 2024_Poster
Introduction The modular μSiM is based on a 96-well plate format with a 100 μl open well. While these devices have proven extremely useful for various barrier models including the blood-brain barrier1 and the tendon-vascular interface2, there is a need to transform the open well into a fluidic channel. A closed channel device would enable…
Introduction As discussed in a previous post, we are working to adapt a PDMS flow insert as a manufacturable component. While our priority was maintaining the original flow channel geometry as Mansouri et al. designed, we slightly changed the channel length (5 mm –> 4.6 mm) to accommodate an extra bonding area for the pressure-sensitive…
Introduction A recent collaborative publication from RIT developed a modular µSiM to address the lack of physiological fluid flow in conventional open-well devices (Figure 1). The magnetic latching assembly of this design allows for quick configuration into a fluidic setup. The flow module is a microfabricated PDMS insert that contains a channel over the membrane…
Introduction The work in this post explores the hypothesis that durotaxis affects the invasion of S. aureus into the osteocyte lacuna-canicular network (OLCN). To address this hypothesis, we modified the µSiM to enable the independent tuning of pore stiffness, ranging from those of soft-tissues to that of silicon nitride (~10X stiffer than bone). More background…
Introduction The invasion of Staphlyococcus aureus into the cracks of cortical bone leads to osteomyelitis, a devastating disease often resolved by amputation [1]. The μSiM platform has been used to study the genetic mechanisms of S. aureus invasion. The membrane pores mimic the network of cracks in bone, referred to as the osteocyte lacuno-canalicular network…