Device for assessing mechanical strain induced in or by cells- US20220017846A1
This device uses a flexible membrane below a via in glass to provide mechanical strain to a capillary bed. This technology can be used to create a vascularised lung model with perfusable vasculature and mechanical strain of cells.
Method and apparatus for forming a microfluidic gel structure- WO2022258668A1
This method allows for the creation of a lumen through an ECM gel which is retained by a phaseguide allowing for sequential lumens to be created in close proximity. This can reduce the thickness of the gel to >150µm and provides cells with a uniform mechanical and chemical structure. Due to the differing growth rates of cells, this technology has been used to seed tumour cells after the formation of an endothelia tubule to investigate the killing effect of CAR-T cells.