TY - JOUR
T1 - Polymer nano manufacturing of a biomimicking surface for kidney stone crystallization studies
AU - Pleeging, R.M.B.
AU - Ibis, F.
AU - Fan, D.
AU - Sasso, L.
AU - Eral, H.B.
AU - Staufer, U.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Detected kidney stone cases are increasing globally, yet knowledge on the conditions for stone formation is lacking. Experimental approaches mimicking the micro-environmental conditions present in vivo can help sci-entists untangle intertwined physiochemical and biological phenomena leading to kidney stone formation. As crystal nucleation often initiates at liquid-solid interfaces, the interface morphology plays a significant role in the rate of nucleation. Within the nephron, the functional unit of the kidney, four segments can be distinguished that contain different surface morphologies. Particularly, the cells lining these segments contain protrusions in the shape of nanopillars that vary in length, diameter and spacing. Exploiting the opportunities provided by organ- on-a-chip technology, we designed and manufactured a proof-of-principle microfluidic device proposed to in-crease our understanding of the relation between kidney surface morphology and kidney stone crystallization. We used two-photon polymerization to fabricate biocompatible surfaces that mimic the nephron morphologies with materials properties similar to those of biological structures. The fabricated cilia were incorporated in the microfluidic device, which was designed to observe in vitro crystallization of calcium oxalate under flow
AB - Detected kidney stone cases are increasing globally, yet knowledge on the conditions for stone formation is lacking. Experimental approaches mimicking the micro-environmental conditions present in vivo can help sci-entists untangle intertwined physiochemical and biological phenomena leading to kidney stone formation. As crystal nucleation often initiates at liquid-solid interfaces, the interface morphology plays a significant role in the rate of nucleation. Within the nephron, the functional unit of the kidney, four segments can be distinguished that contain different surface morphologies. Particularly, the cells lining these segments contain protrusions in the shape of nanopillars that vary in length, diameter and spacing. Exploiting the opportunities provided by organ- on-a-chip technology, we designed and manufactured a proof-of-principle microfluidic device proposed to in-crease our understanding of the relation between kidney surface morphology and kidney stone crystallization. We used two-photon polymerization to fabricate biocompatible surfaces that mimic the nephron morphologies with materials properties similar to those of biological structures. The fabricated cilia were incorporated in the microfluidic device, which was designed to observe in vitro crystallization of calcium oxalate under flow
KW - Kidney stones
KW - Two-photon polymerization
KW - Biomimicry
KW - Organ-on-a-chip
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85122706226&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.mne.2021.100094
DO - 10.1016/j.mne.2021.100094
M3 - Article
SN - 2590-0072
VL - 13
JO - Micro and Nano Engineering
JF - Micro and Nano Engineering
M1 - 100094
ER -