Bioengineered Articular Cartilage Biomimetic Organ-on-a-Chip Using Microfluidics

Proud to share our recent published work exploring how microfluidics-based organ-on-a-chip (OOAC) technology can recreate the structural, biochemical, and mechanical environment of native articular cartilage.
Upasna Upadhyay Oct 29, 2025

Highlights of our work

  • Developed a decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM)–based bioink supporting chondrogenesis.

  • Optimized composite alginate–chitosan hydrogels achieving compression modulus of 0.18 MPa and tensile strength of 0.4 MPa.

  • Dynamic microfluidic perfusion (150 mbar & 50 mbar) enabled formation of superficial and middle cartilage zones.

  • MSCs-derived chondrocytes in bioink showed upregulation of COL2A1, Aggrecan, and Laminin — hallmark features of hyaline cartilage.

  • The resulting constructs exhibited non-linear mechanical behavior similar to native cartilage, positioning them as models for drug testing.

This study represents a step forward in tissue-engineered biomimetics, integrating material science, stem cell biology, and microfluidic mechanics to emulate native cartilage physiology in vitro.