Protocol to develop a microfluidic human corneal barrier-on-a-chip to evaluate the corneal epithelial wound repair process

Zitong Yu; Rui Hao; Xi Chen; Lu Ma; Yi Zhang; Hui Yang

doi:10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102122

Protocol to develop a microfluidic human corneal barrier-on-a-chip to evaluate the corneal epithelial wound repair process

STAR Protoc. 2023 Mar 17;4(1):102122. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102122. Epub 2023 Feb 15.

Authors

Zitong Yu¹, Rui Hao¹, Xi Chen¹, Lu Ma¹, Yi Zhang², Hui Yang³

Affiliations

¹ Bionic Sensing and Intelligence Center, Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China.
² Center for Medical AI, Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China.
³ Bionic Sensing and Intelligence Center, Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China. Electronic address: hui.yang@siat.ac.cn.

Abstract

Organs-on-chips are microfluidic devices for cell culturing to simulate tissue- or organ-level physiology, providing new solutions other than traditional animal tests. Here, we describe a microfluidic platform consisting of human corneal cells and compartmentalizing channels to achieve fully integrated human cornea's barrier effects on the chip. We detail steps to verify the barrier effects and physiological phenotypes of microengineered human cornea. Then, we use the platform to evaluate the corneal epithelial wound repair process. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Yu et al. (2022).¹.

Keywords: Biotechnology and bioengineering; Cell Biology; Cell culture; Microscopy; Tissue Engineering.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Cells, Cultured
Cornea*
Humans
Lab-On-A-Chip Devices
Microfluidics* / methods