Microfluidic device to interconnect multiple organs via fluidic circulation: Towards body-on-a-chip

In vitro cell-based assay with human cells is getting attention as an alternative of conventional animal tests for more accurate drug screening and safety testing. We present a simplified microfluidic device (1) assembling multiple organs within a device and (2) integrating a closed-loop medium circulation system to investigate the effects of drugs/metabolites on various organs, namely body-on-a-chip. For its fabrication, a simple and reliable three-dimensional (3D) lithography with the process optimization method is applied to improve the current polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) molding techniques. The fabricated double-layered PDMS microfluidic device is successfully applied to evaluate the effects of an anti-cancer drug (doxorubicin) on cell survival of two types of cells.