A low-cost 3D printed microfluidic bioreactor and imaging chamber for live-organoid imaging

Organoids are biological systems grown in vitro and are observed to self-organize into 3D cellular tissues of specific organs. Brain organoids have emerged as valuable models for the study of human brain development in health and disease. Researchers are now in need of improved culturing and imaging tools to capture the in vitro dynamics of development processes in the brain. Here, we describe the design of a microfluidic chip and bioreactor, to enable in situ tracking and imaging of brain organoids on-chip. The low-cost 3D printed microfluidic bioreactor supports organoid growth and provides an optimal imaging chamber for live-organoid imaging, with drug delivery support. This fully isolated design of a live-cell imaging and culturing platform enables long-term live-imaging of the intact live brain organoids as it grows. We can thus analyze their self-organization in a controlled environment with high temporal and spatial resolution.

Automated summary

Organoids are biological systems grown in vitro that self-organize into 3D cellular tissues of specific organs, with brain organoids being valuable models for studying human brain development. Researchers are developing improved tools, such as microfluidic chips and bioreactors, to track and image brain organoids in real-time on a chip, enabling long-term live-imaging of the growing organoids with high resolution.