Publicação
Automated Microfluidic Platform for Quantitative Analysis of Molecular Trans- port across Biomimetic Interfaces
| Resumo: | A comprehensive understanding of human physiology and disease is crucial for ad- vancing drug discovery and developing effective therapies. This requires physiologically relevant in vitro models supported by standardized, robust, and reproducible methods. Traditional 2D cell cultures and animal models often fail to mimic the dynamic microenvi- ronments and selective transport functions of human tissue barriers. While microfluidic barrier models offer better biomimicry, many are limited by technical complexity, lack of standardization, and insufficient real-time analysis capabilities, especially under non- equilibrium conditions. Non-equilibrium molecular transport is a critical feature of many biological barriers, including the renal tubule, blood–brain barrier, intestinal epithelium, and placental interface. These systems rely on active transport mechanisms, directional fluid flow, and dynamic concentration gradients that cannot be accurately modeled us- ing static or oversimplified systems. This work presents a fully automated microfluidic platform with programmable control and closed-loop feedback for standardized analysis of molecular transport across biomimetic tissue barriers. It enables dynamic regulation, precise fluid handling, and high-resolution monitoring, with continuous compensation for solvent drag and hydrostatic pressure. Proof-of-concept validation demonstrates the system’s potential to minimize user intervention, improve reproducibility, and support inter-laboratory standardization. The platform offers scalable, high-fidelity modeling of barrier function under dynamic conditions, with broad applications in translational research and preclinical drug development. |
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| Autores principais: | Pais, Beatriz dos Reis Antunes |
| Assunto: | Microfluidics Fully Automation Non-Equilibrium Molecular Transport Organ- on-a-chip Biological Barriers |
| Ano: | 2025 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | dissertação de mestrado |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso aberto |
| Instituição associada: | Universidade Nova de Lisboa |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| Origem: | Repositório Institucional da UNL |
| Resumo: | A comprehensive understanding of human physiology and disease is crucial for ad- vancing drug discovery and developing effective therapies. This requires physiologically relevant in vitro models supported by standardized, robust, and reproducible methods. Traditional 2D cell cultures and animal models often fail to mimic the dynamic microenvi- ronments and selective transport functions of human tissue barriers. While microfluidic barrier models offer better biomimicry, many are limited by technical complexity, lack of standardization, and insufficient real-time analysis capabilities, especially under non- equilibrium conditions. Non-equilibrium molecular transport is a critical feature of many biological barriers, including the renal tubule, blood–brain barrier, intestinal epithelium, and placental interface. These systems rely on active transport mechanisms, directional fluid flow, and dynamic concentration gradients that cannot be accurately modeled us- ing static or oversimplified systems. This work presents a fully automated microfluidic platform with programmable control and closed-loop feedback for standardized analysis of molecular transport across biomimetic tissue barriers. It enables dynamic regulation, precise fluid handling, and high-resolution monitoring, with continuous compensation for solvent drag and hydrostatic pressure. Proof-of-concept validation demonstrates the system’s potential to minimize user intervention, improve reproducibility, and support inter-laboratory standardization. The platform offers scalable, high-fidelity modeling of barrier function under dynamic conditions, with broad applications in translational research and preclinical drug development. |
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