Organ-on-a-Chip Glomerulus and Nephrotube Model
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: Materials
Abstract
The current model for drug development requires the need for extensive animal studies. These can take years to complete and results may not accurately predict response in humans. One way forward is to develop in vitro models that mimic whole organ function, the so called organ-on-a-chip concept. The current state of the artfor the organ-on-a-chip is based on the microculture of populations of a single cell type or two different (but separated) cell populations in coculture within a device. This concept has been successfully used to create mimics of lung, kidney and gut tissue. However, this design is 2-dimensional and cannot accurately mimic organ structure. This follow on fund proposal will develop the organ-on-a-chip concept further by building a better model of organ tissue building on prior BBSRC funded work manipulating sheets of cells. This will be used to develop improved models of a kidney-on-a-chip with applications in drug toxicity testing and drug development.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Brian Derby (Principal Investigator) | |
| Rachel Lennon (Co-Investigator) |
Publications
Loewenhardt W
(2017)
Integrating Cell Sheets for Organ-on-a-chip Applications
in Procedia CIRP
Holmes AM
(2017)
Rising to the challenge: applying biofabrication approaches for better drug and chemical product development.
in Biofabrication
| Description | We have been able to successfully grow sheets of kidney glommerular endothelial cells and podocytes on surfaces that enable whole intact sheets to be removed and inserted into a bioreactor. We have successfully constructed a bioreactor for the project. |
| Exploitation Route | This will depend on further work in progress but if successful this couls be used to reduce the use of laboratory animals in toxicity trials. We have received funding from industry to continue the study. |
| Sectors | Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Description | BBSRC Industrial CASE |
| Amount | £127,776 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/P504348/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2017 |
| End | 10/2020 |
| Description | University of Manchester Charitable Donation |
| Amount | £2,500 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Manchester |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2017 |
| End | 08/2017 |
| Description | BBSRC Industrial CASE studentship: Glaxo Smith Klein |
| Organisation | GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) |
| Department | GlaxoSmithKline Medicines Research Centre |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | GSK are interested in developing in vitro models of organs for a drug discovery purposes. We have developed a novel concept and GSK are interested in assessing its applicability. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Support for a studentship |
| Impact | Too early in project for outputs |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Imaging of Biological Printing for High Throughput Applications (IAA Proof of Concept Award with FFEI Ltd.) |
| Organisation | FFEI |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The University of Manchester is a pioneer in the field of cell printing and has been working in the field for over 10 years with EPSRC funding supporting Ph.D. studentships, A Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship(Dr. R.E. Saunders), EPSRC grant support with the most recent to Derby being EP/L012022/1 and BBSRC support e.g. BB/N01250X/1. It has also featured in the Doctoral Training Programme in Regenerative Medicine and is an important component of the Henry Royce Institute Biomaterials Theme EP/P025021/1 and EP/R00661X/1. Manchester has considerable experience in printing a range of cells and exploring the physical science aspects of the process, e.g. influence of shear flow and acoustic effects on cell viability, and machine and process development to optimise viability. The integration of cell printing with high throughput analysis remains unexplored commercially. The proposed project will exploit the several years of experience accumulated in Manchester on successful cell deposition, placement, patterning for applications in tissue engineering, medical engineering and organ-on-a-chip technology. This will provide basic understanding for the integration of a bioprinter with the imaging technology skills of the industrial partner. |
| Collaborator Contribution | FFEI has significant, existing commercial expertise in digital scanning for whole-slide imaging in pathology and manufacturing of digital inkjet engines. This project will investigate, for the first time, combining high throughput cell printing (Manchester) and high-throughput scanning analysis techniques (FFEI) for application to drug discovery, tissue engineering and medical diagnostics.High-throughput printing of cells and biological material into discrete formations, followed by highly variable over-printing and simultaneous digital analysis, offers an all-in-one solution that is currentlynot available. This presents opportunity for FFEI to integrate and manufacture project outputs to approach new markets. The IAA proof of concept data produced will lead to a future novel and commercially viable life science device that can be developed further by FFEI. |
| Impact | Early stages of collaboration - no outputs yet |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Title | A MULTILAYER SHEET OF CELLS |
| Description | A multilayer sheet of cells, comprising a layer of endothelial cells, and a layer of podocytes is disclosed. |
| IP Reference | WO2016207654 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2016 |
| Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
| Impact | Further collaboratiuon with industry |
| Description | Interview by BBC World Service (Arabic) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Laboratory visit and description of research into Bioprinting at the University of Manchester. Equipment funded by the award was discussed. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Stand at Science Festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Stand at Blue Dot Science and Music Festival. 3D printing demonstration, Hands on demonstration printing conductors, Audience mainly children and young adults, team interacted and fielded questions in 3D printing and printed electronics. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Stand at Science Festival (Blue Dot festival, July 2019) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Activity was a stand at science festival showing how materials fabrication methods could be used to make biological constructs. Introduced concept of an organ on a chip. Some hands on demonstrations for participants. Audience general public with focus on High school Age children. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |