http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23908680

Biomicrofluidics. 2012 Aug 2;6(3):34109. doi: 10.1063/1.4742911. Print 2012 Sep.

Modular microfluidic system as a model of cystic fibrosis airways.

Skolimowski M, Weiss Nielsen M, Abeille F, Skafte-Pedersen P, Sabourin D, Fercher A, Papkovsky D, Molin S, Taboryski R, Sternberg C, Dufva M, Geschke O,Emnéus J.

Source

Department of Micro- and Nanotechnology, Technical University of Denmark, Ørsted Plads, Building 345B, Kgs. Lyngby DK-2800, Denmark ; Department of Systems Biology, Technical University of Denmark, Matematiktorvet, Building 301, Kgs. Lyngby DK-2800, Denmark.

Abstract

A modular microfluidic airways model system that can simulate the changes in oxygen tension in different compartments of the cystic fibrosis (CF) airways was designed, developed, and tested. The fully reconfigurable system composed of modules with different functionalities: multichannel peristaltic pumps, bubble traps, gas exchange chip, and cell culture chambers. We have successfully applied this system for studying the antibiotic therapy of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the bacteria mainly responsible for morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis, in different oxygen environments. Furthermore, we have mimicked the bacterial reinoculation of the aerobic compartments (lower respiratory tract) from the anaerobic compartments (cystic fibrosis sinuses) following an antibiotic treatment. This effect is hypothesised as the one on the main reasons for recurrent lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients.