Cellbox Labs is developing a vascularized organ on a chip platform for more precise drug discovery. Their novel chip together with the hardware and software allows for flexible experiment design and significantly reduces hands-on time in the lab. We help Cellbox Labs with our extensive experience in microfluidic flow control systems design, so the project’s research partners could experiment with GBA on their gut-on-chip model.
Developing a first-in-class vascularized Gut-Brain-Axis-on-chip platform for accelerating research and drug discovery (GBA-Connect)
Cellbox Labs & partners
Microfluidics flow control to control organ-on-a-chip experiment systems
Project number and acronym: 5304 GBA-CONNECT
Funding: Eureka, Eurostars 3 – Call 5
Period: 1st April 2024 – 31th March 2026
Project costs: 172 250 €
Coordinator: Cellbox Labs LTD
Cooperation partners: KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre (BMC), Teadusmosaiik OÜ, Fewer Moving Parts Ltd.
The primary objective of this project is to develop a first-in-class vascularized Gut-Brain-Axis (GBA) on-chip platform. This innovative platform will feature two main components: (1) a GBA model utilizing our proprietary chips designed for cutting-edge research and drug discovery, and (2) a next-generation hardware instrument tailored for automated organ-on-chip culturing, monitoring, and analysis. Our approach will leverage the consortium’s expertise and pre-existing technology in organ-on-chip models. The GBA model will build on our successful gut-on-chip model, which includes co-cultured anaerobic microbiota and sophisticated in vitro blood-brain barriers. The second-generation hardware will be enhanced with special dedicated pumps and manifold systems, essential for the automated culturing of the GBA model and integration of additional multi-organ-on-chip models. This GBA on chip platform addresses a critical gap in medical research and drug discovery. Understanding the Gut-Brain-Axis is essential for developing new therapeutic strategies for neurological conditions, ranging from nutraceuticals to living therapeutics. The platform facilitates the study of drug absorption in the gut, crossing of the blood-brain barrier, and the assessment of drug toxicity. Current solutions in the market do not meet the necessary criteria for comprehensive GBA studies, which makes our innovative platform a crucial development in the field. By providing a reliable and automated platform to study the GBA, this project has the potential to significantly advance research in neurology and gastroenterology. It will enable researchers and pharmaceutical companies to discover and evaluate new drugs more efficiently and with greater precision, leading to improved treatment options for a variety of neurological and mental health conditions.
Our mission is to build a modular and universal microfluidic flow controller platform that could be used by Cellbox Labs instruments and other lab-on-a-chip/organ-on-chip companies. Key features for our new flow platform:
- Modular rail design (individual flow controllers can be controlled over USB, and up to 32 modules can be chained together using a RS485 bus to orchestrate more complex chip designs) with minimal integration complexity.
- Piezo-electric pressure control for low-pressure ranges (for systems with wider channels and lower flow rates).
- Brushless motorized membrane flow controller (for systems with smaller channels or higher flow rates).
- Software libraries to make the adoption and integration of the pumps easier on Windows, macOS or Linux machines.
- During the project, we will build a number of electronic, electro-mechanical and also optics prototypes and test rigs/setups to validate and tune the flow control system
Impact
We help Cellbox Labs and improve the performance and reliability of their organ-on-a-chip instrument to run Gut-Brain-Axis experiments and advance the neurology and gastroenterology research.