Leveraging Open Microfluidic Patterning and Home Blood Sampling and Stabilization to Advance Tissue Engineering and Translational Research

Abstract

Engineered systems and microfluidic devices have long been used to gain insight into a range of disciplines in the medical sciences, from three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting to home biofluid sampling devices. This dissertation explores engineering tools and the use of open microfluidics to further develop tissue engineering and translational medicine. Chapter 1 introduces the field of open microfluidics and provides background into existing technologies for 3D tissue patterning and home sampling of biological fluids. Chapter 2 outlines a novel, additive technique for the fabrication of complex 3D hydrogel structures using removable open microfluidic patterning devices. This technique takes advantage of surface tension and capillary forces to drive flow and define the shape of the hydrogel structure, allowing for the use of native hydrogels (e.g., collagen, fibrin, and Matrigel) as well as engineered dynamic hydrogels. Chapter 3 expands upon open microfluidic tissue patterning in which a suspended removable open microfluidic channel is used to generate spatially patterned multi-component suspended engineered tissues. Chapter 4 introduces homeRNA: a kit comprising a commercially available lancet-based blood sampling device from Tasso and a custom engineered fluidic tube for delivery of a stabilizer solution to a self-collected blood sample. homeRNA enables fully remote user-directed blood sampling and RNA stabilization. Chapter 5 further explores the use of homeRNA in high temperature settings via two pilot studies conducted in the summer months in western US and in Doha, Qatar. Chapter 6 describes a study investigating the use of homeRNA to evaluate the systemic inflammatory response to wildfire smoke in the Western US by utilizing a remote and flexible study design; the results show that homeRNA is feasible for collecting biological samples in challenging environments, including unpredictable natural disasters such as wildfires. Finally, Chapter 7 provides an overarching summary of the technologies presented in this dissertation for home-sampling and tissue engineering applications. Chapter 7 also outlines future outlooks and current directions for these technologies. This dissertation leverages open microfluidics principles to advance tissue engineering, allowing for additional 3D control over a range of materials to study dynamic and structurally relevant engineered tissues. Looking beyond in vitro engineered tissue modelling, this work also presents technology to expand the study of human health outside of the laboratory and into the home – exploring the use of home-sampling and stabilization technologies to enable fully remote translational research.