Paving the way for High-throughput Organoid ENgineering using Integrated acoustiX

Project Information

PHOENIX

Grant agreement ID: 101043985

DOI

10.3030/101043985

EC signature date 25 July 2022

Start date 1 April 2023

End date 31 March 2028

Funded under

• European Research Council (ERC)

Total cost

€ 2 832 500,00

EU contribution

€ 2 832 500,00

Coordinated by

UPPSALA UNIVERSITET
Sweden

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PHOENIX (Paving the way for High-throughput Organoid ENgineering using Integrated acoustiX)

Reporting period: 2023-04-01 to 2025-09-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The project 'PHOENIX', or 'Paving the way for High-throughput Organoid ENgineering using Integrated acoustiX' will further expand the droplet microfluidics toolbox that the Tenje lab has pioneered during the last ten years, to gain control of the cellular architecture of organoid structure by using integrated acoustics. For the project, we will collaborate with researchers from Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands, and researchers at Karolinska Institute and Lund University in Sweden.

PHOENIX will allow the Tenje lab to:

- Develop biocompatible acoustofluidic methods for manipulation of stem cells in viscous media
- Acquire spatio-temporal control of the organoid differentiation process via microfluidic solutions
- Integrate vascular networks in brain organoids using microfabrication techniques
- Validate added benefits and improved functionality of brain organoids generated on-chip

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

To date, we have established a theoretical framework for acoustic manipulation of viscous droplets so that we now have the tools to target system design and fabrication. We are exploring the use of two-photon polymerisation of an acoustic trapping array that can be used to withhold organoids against a flow in a microfluidic device. In this way, we hypothesise we will be able to control the differentiation processes better and increase reproducibility for generation of brain organoids.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

We are currently finalising the theoretical work performed into a scientific publication to share with the research community that have an interest in two-phase acoustofluidics. We have already published the work on dynamics of droplet formation using non-Newtonian fluids.
Once the acoustic trapping array is established, we will connect with other research groups in the organoid field to investigate possibilities to control different process of other organ models in addition to brain organoids.

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