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Microfluidics opens up endless possibilities! We also explain biomimetic systems (MPS) that are expected to be used in medical research.





In recent years, microscale research has been conducted in a wide range of fields, including medicine, biology, and chemistry, and various operations and analyses that were difficult to perform with conventional technology are now being carried out. One of the most cutting-edge technologies that is attracting attention is microfluidics. Demand for microfluidics has been increasing year by year, and is expected to continue to grow in the future.


In this article, we will explain the characteristics of microchannels and examples of using microfluidic devices, and also discuss microphysiological systems (MPS), which are expected to play a major role in medical research. Let's take a look at the benefits that microchannels can bring to modern research.





table of contents





1. What is a microchannel ?


A microchannel is a micro-scale shape of a flow channel formed on a substrate typically made of silicon or resin such as PDMS. This microchannel technology began to attract attention in the late 1990s with the development of MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) technology, which forms tiny mechanical structures on substrates such as silicon. Substrates with these microchannels are collectively called "microfluidic devices" or "microchannel chips," and are currently expected to play a major role in medical research, drug discovery, and other areas.




2. What is a microfluidic device (microchannel chip)?


Microfluidic devices, also known as microchannel chips, are devices for controlling the flow of liquids and gases on an extremely small scale. They can freely mix and split the particles in the liquid flowing through the fine channels on a microscale, and are used in a variety of tests and research by applying microfluidics.



2-1) Materials and advantages/disadvantages of microfluidic devices


Microfluidic devices are made from a variety of materials, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Below we have summarized the most common materials.


Optical properties

Chemical resistance

Heat resistance

Strong Points

Cons

PDMS

◎

△

×

  • High light transmittance makes analysis easy

  • Highly flexible and easy to change shape

  • Vulnerable to heat and chemicals

resin

△ ～ ◎

△ ～ ◎

×～〇

  • Mass production possible

  • Wide variety of types and grades

  • Mass production requires high initial costs

  • Resin selection is essential

Glass

◎

◎

◎

  • Reusable

  • Observation using laser light is possible

  • Hard but easily broken

  • The shape is less flexible and difficult to mass-produce.

  • PDMS Microfluidic devices using PDMS are relatively popular in current research and development, and are also used in prototypes because the material is inexpensive. PDMS is flexible, and its strength is that it is easy to change the device shape and channel shape . On the other hand, it is also vulnerable to heat and chemicals , so care must be taken when handling it. In recent years, it has also been combined with 3D printing technology to print and create complex microchannels.


  • Resin (Other) Microfluidic devices using resin have the advantage that they are easy to mass-produce because the material is relatively inexpensive and has a high degree of freedom in shape. Furthermore, since there are many types and grades of resin, it is necessary to select the appropriate resin . It is important to use different resins depending on the type of chemicals and fluids used.


  • Microfluidic devices made of glass have high chemical resistance and can be used regardless of the type of chemical solution or sample used . In addition, they are not damaged by laser light, making them easy to observe and analyze, and they can be sterilized and washed for reuse. Disadvantages include the need to handle them with care as they are hard but easily breakable , and the limited freedom of shape makes them less suitable for mass production .



2-2) Examples of using microfluidic devices


Microfluidic devices are attracting attention in various fields, including medical and drug discovery research. This article summarizes some typical examples of how microfluidic devices are used.


Drug Discovery and Development

  • Rapid and efficient screening of novel drug candidates

  • High-precision drug synthesis using microreactors

  • Drug discovery research using cell and tissue cultures

  • Development of drug delivery systems using microchips


diagnosis

  • Analysis of small samples such as blood and urine tests

  • Rapid and highly sensitive diagnostics, including genetic and infectious disease testing

  • Isolation and cultivation of rare cells such as cancer cells

  • Analysis of cell and tissue functions


Regenerative Medicine

  • Stem cell culture and differentiation control

  • Fabricating artificial organs using 3D bioprinting

  • Tissue engineering research using microfluidic devices



2-3) Latest trends in microfluidic devices


Microfluidic devices are making remarkable progress year by year, and innovative technologies are being developed in various fields, such as material and device development, systemization, and applications in the medical and environmental fields. Here, I would like to introduce the latest trends in microfluidic technology, dividing them into market size and technological innovation.


Market size

When microfluidic devices first began to attract attention in the 1990s, the market size was only a few million dollars, but as of 2024, it is said to be more than 30 billion dollars. Looking at the market by region, North America is currently the largest, but the Asia-Pacific region, where Japan is located, has had the highest market growth rate in recent years, and the development of microfluidic devices is progressing at a faster pace than Europe.


Technological innovation

In recent years, 3D printing technology and nanotechnology have progressed, and it is now possible to create microchannels with complex shapes at low cost compared to before. As a result, research into reproducing organ functions outside the body has been actively carried out, especially in the fields of medicine and drug discovery, and biomimetic systems and organ-on-a-chips are gaining attention. Therefore, this time I would like to focus on and explain biomimetic systems.




3. What is a biomimetic system (MPS)?


3-1) Overview of biomimetic systems


A biomimetic system, also known as an MPS (Microphysiological System), is a system that mimics the functions of biological tissues and organs. By using microfluidic device technology to create tiny chambers for culturing cells and tissues and reproducing an environment close to that of the living body, it is possible to evaluate the effects and toxicity of drugs and elucidate the mechanisms of diseases.



3-2) History of biomimetic systems


Research on biomimetic systems (MPS) began to develop in the late 1990s, when a simple system for culturing single cells was developed. In the 2010s, public institutions such as the US government and the European Union began to provide funding for MPS research and development, and a lung-on-a-chip, a chip that mimics the lung, was also developed. As technological innovation progressed, more advanced MPS were developed, and as of 2024, research on MPS using AI (artificial intelligence) and big data seems to be progressing.



3-3) Prospects and challenges of biomimetic systems


One of the hopes for biomimetic systems (MPS) is the development of drug discovery research. By more faithfully reproducing the structure and function of MPS, experiments can be performed with higher precision than with conventional cultured cells. This makes it possible to more accurately test the safety and efficacy of new drugs, which was difficult to do with conventional cultured cells. MPS is also attracting attention as a technology to replace animal testing. In recent years, there has been a global trend to not conduct animal testing from the perspective of animal welfare, and to use alternative tools for verification. MPS will likely play an active role in the future as a solution to ethical issues in animal testing.


On the other hand, there are some issues that need to be addressed. The most important issue is the level of perfection required for the simulated organs. Compared to actual organs that have been researched, there are many aspects that have not been reproduced, including functionality, and technical issues need to be resolved. However, in recent years, MPS has been attracting more and more attention, with many venture companies focused on MPS development being established and the MPS World Summit being held. With technological progress accelerating, we can expect to see the development of even more accurate MPS.




4. Hosting the MPS World Summit


MPS World Summit: https://mpsworldsummit.com/

Finally, I would like to introduce the MPS World Summit, a community of MPS researchers from around the world. The MPS World Summit is an international academic conference on biomimetic systems, held annually with the aim of promoting research on MPS. This year, in 2024, it was held in Seattle, USA, where the latest research content and results were presented. Through various programs such as lectures, poster presentations, workshops, and exhibitions, lively discussions and exchanges between participants were held, and it seems that there was a lot of excitement. In addition, industrial stakeholders such as pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, and bio venture companies also participated, so it is also attracting attention as a place for information exchange between companies.


The summit is scheduled to be held again next year in 2025, so if you're interested in finding out more about it, be sure to check out the official website above!




5. Summary

This time, we have provided an overview of microfluidics and focused on biomimetic systems (MPS).

To summarize the contents of the article, the following is true:


  • Microchannels are microscale channels formed on a substrate such as resin, and are used in a variety of research fields, including the medical field.

  • Microfluidic devices have different characteristics depending on the material, and PDMS is a popular material.

  • Microphysiological systems (MPS), a type of microfluidic device, have attracted much attention in the field of drug discovery, and the MPS World Summit is held annually as a conference for MPS research.


Tokai Hit Co., Ltd. develops applications that can be introduced into research in the field of regenerative medicine, including organ culture. Tokai Hit is also good at solving problems for researchers, so if you are interested, please click the button below for more details.




*Machine Translation

This site uses machine translation. In some cases, the translation may be inaccurate or unintended. PDF and image files may not be translated. In the case of any discrepancy between the Japanese site and English site, the original Japanese site shall prevail.


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