Modeling living cells within microfluidic systems using cellular automata models

1. Credit: Wyss Institute at Harvard University Organs on chi
Modeling living cels within microfluidic
systems using cellular automata models
Name : sarah bassam abu zeidan
DR : wahan alshaaer
ID : 0166722

2. • In the early phase of drug development, animal
models were the only way of obtaining in vivo data
that would predict the human pharmacokinetic
responses
• Up to 100 million animals, may be used every year
for the purpose of research.

3. • expensive
• Controversial
• Most animal are euthanized, which means
millions of animals are at a higher risk of
suffering from abuse in a field that is often
poorly regulated.
• It may not offer valid results.

4. Speed up the lifetime of the research

6. organ-on-a-chip (OOC)
An Organ-on-a-Chip is a multi-channel 3-D
microfluidic cell culture chip that simulates the
activities, mechanics and physiological response of
entire organs and organ systems.
this microfabricated devices having 3D structures
that mimic tissue and organ specific
microarchitecture
Image from: Zhang, Y. S., Aleman, J., Shin, S. R., Kilic, T., Kim, D., Shaegh, S. A., .
Khademhosseini, A. (2017). Multisensor-integrated organs-on-chips platform f
automated and continual in situ monitoring of organoid behaviors. Proceedings of t
National Academy of Sciences, 201612906. doi:10.1073/pnas.16129061

7. The 2-inch “organ on a chip" would represent a realistic
testing ground for understanding how the human body
might react to
• dangerous diseases
• new drugs
• Cell adhesion
• Proliferation
• Migration
https://www.genengnews.com/insights/organ-on-a-chip-technology-trumpeted-as-
future-of-drug-discovery/

8. By vacuum we can apply mechanical forces that stretch
and contract the membrane so the cells can experience
the same mechanical forces for in the human body
In the center flexible porous
membrane which we can add
human cells
to make the drug at the scale relevant for both cells and
environment

11. Steps and operations
• Establishing allowed zones of microsystem
Using equation
• Model cell proliferation
• Incorporate cell death
• Model interactions
• Model additional substances( drugs or
reactive)
https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/organs-on-chips-31020

12. Image from: Zhang, Y. S., Aleman, J., Shin, S. R., Kilic, T., Kim, D., Shaegh, S. A., . . . Khademhosseini, A. (2017).
Multisensor-integrated organs-on-chips platform for automated and continual in situ monitoring of organoid
behaviors. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 201612906. doi:10.1073/pnas.1612906114

13. In this study the scientists used :
• nx-8.5 for designing the microfluidic system
devices
• Matlab (mathworks inc) for developing the
code of cellular automata model working Upon
such microsystems

14. • CAD creating the grid and boundaries for the
model (chip)

15. set of computer-aided designs of
microfluidic devices
Simple channel connecting inlet and
outlet
(b) Design with radial channels
for modelling cell migration.
(c) Multi-chamber microsystem with a
central “vascular” channel conceived
for
studying metastasis .
(d) Active layer of a biomedical
microdevice aimed at modelling the
bloodbrain barrier.

16. advantages
• Comparison studies of drugs on human and animals.
• Study on interactions of pathogens and organ cells,
and also the mechanisms of some virus attacks.
• To study the effect of drug on its main action of site
and also other organs.
• Study of toxicity of drugs and cosmetics.
• To study about cancer cells and produce new drugs in
cancer treatment
• Ensure better regulatory decision-making.
• Develop vaccines and drugs to counter bioterrorism
threats.

17. Disadvanteges
• some properties of an organ can’t be
measured.
• It is some times not possible to study
complete organ.
• Drugs action during pregnancy cannot be
studied.
• Cost

18. Future of Organs-on-a-Chip
• pharmaceutical industry
• Personalized
• A hole body on a chip
• One day, they will perhaps abolish the need
for animals in drug development and toxin
testing.
• Understand some critical diseases such as
Alzheimer

19. concerns
• A common concern with Organs-on-Chips lies
in the isolation of organs during testing. “If
you don’t use as close to the total
physiological system that you can, we’re likely
to run into troubles