University of Toronto

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Inc.

Sunnybrook Research Institute

Other

Axel Guenther

Lian Leng

Elliot L Chaikof

Richard M Cheng

Navid Hakimi

Stephanie Grainger

David Miranda Nieves

Richard Yihsiu Cheng

Shashi Malladi

Marc G Jeschke

Milica Radisic

Boyang Zhang

Andrew Wollard

Arianna McAllister

Qing Ba

Steffen-Sebastian Bolz

Gertraud Eylert

Saeid Amini-Nik

Sijin He

Jean-Michel Gariépy

Mohammad Hadi Sotoudehfar

Haotian Chen

Mark Jeronimo

Adrianna McAllister

Richard Cheng

Richard Yi-Hsiu Cheng

Systems, devices and methods are provided for fabricating anisotropic polymer materials. According to various embodiments, a fluidic device is employed to distribute a polymer solution and a flow-confining solution in order to generate a layered flow, where the layered flow is formed such that a polymer liquid sheet is sheathed on opposing sides by flow-confining liquid sheets. The fluidic device includes first and second fluid conduits, where the first fluid conduit receives the layered flow. The second fluid conduit has a reduced height relative to the first fluid conduit, such that the layered flow is constricted as it flows through the second fluid conduit. The constriction formed by the second flow conduit causes hydrodynamic focusing, reducing the thickness of the polymer liquid sheet, and inducing molecular alignment and anisotropy within the polymer liquid sheet as it is hardened and as strain is applied during extrusion of the sheet.

Fluidic systems, devices and methods for inducing anisotropy in polymeric materials

Disclosed herein is an instrument that enables the in situ formation of architected planar biomaterials and tissues by translating a printer head along a deposition surface such as a patient having burn injuries. In handheld embodiments of the instrument, cell-laden biopolymer solutions are perfused through a moving microfabricated printer head and deposited onto a stationary planar surface or a wound. The printer head may be translated via a drive mechanism. A soft deformable roller mitigates further damage to the injured area of skin as it rolls over it and a gimbal mechanism to which the printer head is attached is in contact with the injured tissue but is configured so that the printer head while in contact with tissue, does not exert undue pressure on the would area.

Devices and methods for wound-conformal guidance of bioprinter printhead

Disclosed herein is a bioprinter that enables the in situ formation of architected planar biomaterials and tissues by translating a printer head along a deposition surface, such as skin wounds. In handheld configurations of of the instrument, cell-laden biopolymer solutions are perfused through a moving microfabricated printhead and deposited onto a stationary planar surface or a wound. The printer head may be translated via a drive mechanism. Different embodiments of the instrument are disclosed form vivo application in small animals, as well as for large animal and clinical application. A stationary embodiment of the instrument is well suited for the continuous formation and roll-to-roll processing of planar biomaterials and tissues.

Tissue printer

Methods and devices are disclosed for the controlled formation of structures, including tubular structures, using microfluidic devices. In one embodiment, a microfluidic device includes three or more microfluidic arrays that are provided in a stacking configuration, with an inner streaming layer and an outer streaming layer for flowing a streaming fluid, and at least one intermediate matrix layer for flowing a matrix fluid. Fluid flow in each layer is directed from a peripheral region towards, and distributed around, a common central outlet. Guided by the streaming fluid, a sheath of matrix solution is formed, which may be solidified to form a tubular material. Some embodiments allow for the controlled and continuous extrusion of tubular structures with tailored heterogeneities and/or predictable mechanical and chemical properties. Devices and methods are also provided for the on- and off-chip fixation and optional perfusion of tubular structures.

Microfluidic devices and methods for the extrusion of tubular structures

Methods and devices are disclosed for providing the controlled formation of planar homogeneous or heterogeneous materials using microfluidic devices. In one embodiment, a planar array of microfluidic channels is employed to produce a flowing liquid sheet having heterogeneous structure by spatially and temporally controlling dispensing of polymer liquid from selected microchannels. The resulting liquid sheet is solidified to produce a planar heterogeneous material that may be continuously drawn and/or fed from the plurality of microfluidic channels. The polymer liquid may include a payload that may be selectively incorporated into the heterogeneous structure. In some embodiments, the local material composition is controllable, thereby allowing control over local and bulk material properties, such as the permeability and the elasticity, and of creating materials with directionally dependent properties.

Devices and methods for producing planar polymeric materials using microfluidics

A device for investigation of a flow conduit comprising: a base; and a module formed in the base, the module comprising: a main channel for the flow conduit, the main channel having a loading inlet for loading the flow conduit; a culture chamber in the main channel for at least one of perfusion and superfusion of the flow conduit; at least two fixation lines in communication with the main channel for providing fixation of the flow conduit at at least two fixation locations along the length of the flow conduit.

Device for investigation of a flow conduit

Growing community of inventors

Toronto, Canada

Axel Guenther