Equipment for biomechanical characterization of organ-on-a-chip devices

我们正在寻求两个独特的和定制的微机械测试仪，使描绘原位机械性能的器官芯片上的设备上的一个脚印制作的一个井板。目前在该地区还没有这种微机械测试仪，在加拿大只有基本型号。我们的芯片上器官装置的独特特征是聚合物材料用于锚组织并感测由它们施加的力，从而通过聚合物材料偏转的可视化实现连续的功能读数。精确的力读数需要校准，这些微机械原位测试仪是迫切需要的。所要求的模型可以在生理材料温度下测量低至10 nN的力，位移的空间分辨率为0.1um。如果没有精确的力读数，药物测试结果就毫无意义，违背了器官芯片研究的最终目的。所要求的微机械测试仪将针对该应用进行定制，以便能够测试具有96孔板足迹的设备。将对每个孔中的器械进行连续测试，无需重新加载样本。标准型号一次只允许将一种材料放入试验箱。在获得新的微机械测试仪之前，我们的研究进展、对当前芯片上器官设备设计的创新能力、发布以及商业化新设备的能力都被搁置。我们还需要一台SLA 3D打印机和一个生物安全柜，以提高这些器官芯片设备的生产能力，并引入无菌制造能力。所要求的设备将由共同申请人实验室（Radisic、Guenther、Simmons和You）的35名受训人员使用。来自63个PI的另外227名受训人员将通过由Guenther博士和Radisic博士共同创办的共享设施使用这一设备：Fluorescence技术研究和应用中心（CRAFT）。Radisic博士指导的NSERC CREATE芯片工程与创业培训计划（TOeP）的59名学员也将受益于这一设备。我们的研究团队由Radisic博士，Guenther博士，Simmons博士和You博士组成，非常均衡（50%女性; 25%少数民族，75%移民），能够在多样化的环境中进行培训。

We are requesting two unique and customized micromechanical testers that enable delineation of in situ mechanical properties of organ-on-a-chip devices fabricated on a foot print of a well plate. Such micromechanical testers are not currently available in the region and only basic models are available in Canada. A unique feature of our organ-on-a-chip devices is that polymeric materials serve to both anchor the tissue and sense the force exerted by them, thus enabling continuous functional readouts by visualization of polymer material deflection. Accurate force readouts require calibration for which these micromechanical in situ testers are urgently needed. The requested model can measure forces down to 10nN at a physiological material temperature and a spatial resolution for displacement of 0.1um. Without accurate force readouts, drug testing results are meaningless defying the ultimate purpose of organ-on-a-chip research. The requested micromechanical tester will be customized for this application to enable testing of devices with a foot print of a 96-well plate. Devices in each well will be tested serially without the need to reload the sample. Standard models only allow placement of one material at the time into the testing chamber. Our research progress, ability to innovate on the current organ-on-a-chip device design, ability to publish as well as to commercialize new devices are on hold until the new micromechanical testers are obtained. We are also requesting an SLA 3D printer and a biosafety cabinet to increase the throughput of production of these organ-on-a-chip devices and introduce sterile fabrication capability. The requested equipment will be used by 35 trainees from the co-applicant laboratories (Radisic, Guenther, Simmons and You). Additional 227 trainees from 63PIs will have access to this equipment through the shared facility co-founded by Drs. Guenther and Radisic: Centre for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies (CRAFT). Also benefiting from this equipment will be 59 trainees from the NSERC CREATE Training Program in Organ-on-a-Chip Engineering & Entrepreneurship (TOeP) that Dr. Radisic directs. Our team of researchers consisting of Dr. Radisic, Dr. Guenther, Dr. Simmons and Dr. You is exceptionally well balanced (50% female; 25% minority, 75% immigrant) enabling training in a diverse environment.