Research project

The aim of my PhD project is to establish the sinusoid, the functional entity of the liver in a vascularized 3D organ-on-a-chip system. This project is relevant in regards of drug discovery and liver disease research. I am using our own developed microfluidic chip with a curved channel named the vasQchip. Human-like conditions need to be replicated in the chip by cultivation of the liver cells in vitro in the microfluidic device. I am looking into optimal coating and fluidic conditions for the liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC). The hepatocytes need the right 3D scaffold which I am trying to implement with hydrogels. Furthermore, the cell type functionalities need to be verified. Another goal is to differentiate liver cells from hiPSC and to apply them to the microfluidic system.