Agency for Science, Technology and Research

National University of Singapore

Yi-chin Toh

Hanry Yu

Derek Phan

Jiangwa Xing

Jun Ye Louis Ong

Farah Tasnim

Christopher Tostado

A planar modular microfluidic module, system and method for manufacturing such module is provided. The module includes a base layer, and a fluidic layer configured to be attached to and on top of the base layer, whereby the base layer and said fluidic layer configured to create a single basic module, a jacket configured to cover the base module around its lateral sides, in order to provide sturdiness to the basic module and create a jacket covered module. The jacket includes a physical connector configured to enable lateral connection between adjacent modules, the physical connector positioned on at least one lateral side of the jacket covered module, and a fluidic connection port located within said physical connector and configured to enable fluid flow connection between adjacent modules.

Planar modular microfluidic system

Disclosed are methods of differentiating stem cells in order to obtain hepatocyte-like cells, the method comprising the steps of a) subjecting definitive endoderm to at least one epigenetic modulator to obtain hepatoblasts and b) subjecting the hepatoblasts to at least one stem cell differentiation pathway inhibitor to obtain hepatocyte-like cells; wherein steps a) and b) do not comprise the use of a growth factor. In one preferred embodiment, the epigenetic modulator may be sodium butyrate and/or DMSO and the stem cell differentiation pathway inhibitor may be SB431542 and/or DMSO. Also disclosed are hepatocyte-like cells obtained from the method and uses of these cells such as drug screening.

Differentiation of hepatocyte-like cells from stem cells

A method and system of in vitro developmental toxicity testing comprising the steps of micropatterning an extracellular matrix; growing embryonic stem cells on the micropatterned extracellular matrix in the presence of mesoendodermal induction and testing for change of the geometrical mesoendoderm structure in the presence or absence of a test compound wherein (1) a decrease in mesoendodermal differentiation and/or (2) a change in morphology of the geometrical mesoendoderm structure in the presence of the test compound compared to cells in the absence of the test compound indicates that the test compound is a developmental toxic agent.

Method and system for in vitro developmental toxicity testing

Growing community of inventors

Singapore, Singapore

Yi-chin Toh