IADR Abstract Archives

Applications of Microfluidic Organ-on-a-Chip Technologies in Dental and Craniofacial Research

Objectives: Organ-on-a-chip systems leverage on recent advances in microfluidic and microfabrication technologies to fabricate miniaturized cell culture devices containing hollow microchannels and microchambers. These devices provide a continuous supply of nutrients and drainage of metabolic wastes, application of shear stress, and model micro/nano features. The dynamic perfusion systems also enable the application of test substances (dental materials, oral-care products, and biomaterials) in a close to clinical use context.
In this talk, the potential use of a microfluidic organ-on-a-chip device to reconstruct tissue equivalents representative of skin (SE) and oral mucosa (OME); and their applications in topical drug delivery, host-microbiome and biocompatibility would be presented.
Methods: The microfluidic organ-on-a-chip device was fabricated using microfabrication technology. The microchambers within the device were used to culture SEs and OMEs. A peristaltic pump connected to the device was used to provide a continuous and controlled flow of media and test compounds. The SEs and OMEs cultured within the organ-on-a-chip device were characterized by immunohistology. Drug permeation studies were conducted using caffeine and dental anesthetics as model drugs.
Results: The organ-on-a-chip device enabled the development of skin and oral mucosa-like tissues. Histological sections of SEs and OMEs demonstrated the formation of a 3D stratified epithelial representative of the epidermis and oral epithelium over a fibroblast-populated matrix. The SEs and OMEs demonstrated the expression of stratified epithelial cytokeratins, matrix proteins, and barrier proteins. TEER, caffeine and dental anesthetic permeation studies demonstrated the barrier function of SEs and OMEs. Upon exposure to oral microbiome, the OMEs demonstrated innate immune response in terms of the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Similarly, the OMEs exposed to uncured dental composites showed the release of surrogate markers of cytotoxicity.
Conclusions: Organ-on-a-chip technology provides a miniaturized platform to recreate microphysiological conditions representative of the skin and oral mucosal tissues which can be used as a versatile and physiologically relevant alternative to human and animal models.

2020 South East Asia Division Meeting (Virtual)

2020
S038
Craniofacial Biology Research
  • Sriram, Gopu  ( National University of Singapore , Singapore , Singapore )
  • NONE
    This work was partially supported by grants from National University of Singapore, Institute for Health Technologies (iHealthTEC) and Singapore Ministry of Education (R-221-000-118-133, R-221-001-118-720, R-221-000-130-733, R-221-001-130-133)
    Oral Session
    Oral 4
    Friday, 11/27/2020 , 01:00PM - 03:00PM