World Precision Instruments and Netri Forge a Strategic Alliance to Advance Organ-on-Chip Technology

Introduction

With the advent of cutting-edge microfabrication techniques and bioengineering advancements, the field of organ-on-chip (OOC) technology has emerged as a transformative approach in biomedical research and drug development. OOCs, miniature devices that mimic the functions of human organs, provide an unprecedented platform for studying organ physiology, disease progression, and testing therapeutic interventions in a controlled environment.

Partnership for Innovation

To further accelerate the advancement of OOC technology, World Precision Instruments (WPI) and Netri have forged a strategic partnership that will leverage their combined expertise in microfabrication, bioengineering, and measurement solutions. This collaboration aims to enhance the functionality and accuracy of OOCs by integrating Netri's innovative cell culture platform with WPI's best-in-class measurement devices.

Key Technologies

Netri's Cell Culture Platform:

Netri's proprietary platform enables the cultivation of human cells in a physiologically relevant microenvironment, mimicking the conditions found within the body. The platform incorporates microfluidic channels that replicate tissue-specific fluid flow, ensuring proper nutrient delivery and waste removal. It also provides precise control over environmental parameters, such as temperature, pH, and oxygen levels, to create optimal conditions for cell growth and differentiation.

WPI's Measurement Devices:

WPI offers a comprehensive line of precision measurement devices, including electrode amplifiers and potentiostats, that are essential for monitoring cellular activity in OOCs. These devices enable researchers to measure key parameters such as transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), a critical indicator of epithelial cell integrity and functionality.

Integration and Applications

By seamlessly integrating Netri's cell culture platform with WPI's measurement devices, the partnership aims to establish a cohesive solution for OOC systems. This integration will provide researchers with the capability to:

Monitor TEER in real-time: TEER reflects the integrity of epithelial barriers, such as those lining the gastrointestinal tract, kidney tubules, and blood vessels. By monitoring TEER in OOCs, researchers can assess epithelial cell function, predict toxicity, and evaluate the efficacy of potential therapies.
Study epithelial transport processes: Epithelial cells facilitate the transport of nutrients, ions, and other substances across cellular barriers. The integrated platform will enable researchers to study these transport processes in a controlled microenvironment, providing insights into drug absorption, secretion, and barrier function.
Develop organ-specific OOCs: The partnership will empower researchers to create sophisticated OOC models that incorporate multiple cell types and mimic specific organ functions. By combining Netri's platform with WPI's measurement capabilities, researchers can tailor OOCs to study complex disease mechanisms and develop personalized treatments.

Cutting-Edge Research Applications

The partnership between WPI and Netri has the potential to revolutionize organ physiology research and drug development. Some of the groundbreaking applications include:

Drug screening: OOCs can be utilized as a high-throughput platform to screen potential drug candidates for efficacy and toxicity, reducing the need for animal testing and accelerating the drug development process.
Disease modeling: OOCs can be engineered to faithfully recapitulate disease conditions, providing a powerful tool for studying disease progression, identifying therapeutic targets, and developing novel treatments.
Personalized medicine: OOCs derived from patient-specific cells hold promise for personalized medicine approaches, where treatment strategies can be tailored to individual patient profiles based on their unique cellular responses.

Conclusion

The strategic partnership between World Precision Instruments and Netri represents a significant milestone in the advancement of OOC technology. By combining their expertise in microfabrication, bioengineering, and measurement solutions, the collaboration will empower researchers to create more sophisticated and accurate OOCs, accelerating the discovery of new therapies and revolutionizing the field of precision medicine.