Microphysiological systems (MPS), also known as organs-on-chips, provide a valuable model for understanding how human body systems may respond to drugs, diseases and other environmental factors. Real-time, high spatial resolution imaging of MPS is challenging, and most methods for visualizing cell functions in these systems rely on optical tools. Researchers from Tohoku University have developed a new method for analyzing and visualizing MPS, adapting two forms of scanning probe microscopy (SPM) to evaluate the systems.
The researchers created an access hole in a vasculature-on-a-chip system in order to insert SPM probes into the system. The two forms of SPM used by the researchers are scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) and scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM). Using these methods, the team quantified the permeability and topographical information of the vasculature-on-a-chip system.
Electrochemical sensors have been used to monitor MPS, but most electrochemical sensors cannot acquire spatial information about cell functions. The Tohoku University team’s adapted SPM system can provide information about electrochemical information while also providing rapid and high-resolution spatial data. The research was published in Advanced Healthcare Materials.
“Our research group has developed various electrochemical imaging tools, SPMs and electrochemical arrays,” said corresponding author Hitoshi Shiku. “These devices will help usher in next-generation sensors in MPS.”
The team performed their first analysis on an MPS containing only endothelial cells and hope to pave the way for further permeability assays and structural analysis of more organs-on-chips using SPM.