A modular platform for automated organoid culture and longitudinal imaging.

Publication Year:

2026

Authors:

Sebastian Torres-Montoya, Sebastian Hernandez, Spencer T Seiler, Hunter E Schweiger, Samira Vera-Choqqueccota, Gregory Kaurala, Tal Sharf, David Haussler, Mohammed A Mostajo-Radji, Mircea Teodorescu

PubMed ID:

41703003

Funding Grants:

Deep phenotyping of human brain organoid models of autism spectrum disorder to unravel disease heterogeneity and develop biomarkers and treatments

Public Summary:

Growing brain organoids from stem cells is labor-intensive and varies between labs. This research presents a new automated platform that feeds, maintains, and images these cultures over long periods without human intervention. This technology reduces human error and ensures high-quality, consistent organoids, which is essential for scaling up the production of human tissues for large-scale clinical research and personalized medicine.

Scientific Abstract:

Organoids, 3D tissue cultures that mimic real organs, offer valuable models for research. Traditional culture methods rely on manual feeding and orbital shakers, making them labor-intensive and inconsistent. Microfluidic systems have shown their potential to improve reproducibility by controlling media exchange and culture conditions, yet most still require standard incubators, which limit continuous monitoring due to space and humidity constraints. To address this, we developed a modular platform that integrates automated feeding, real-time imaging, and environmental control, eliminating the need for a conventional incubator. A key feature is a vertically oriented PDMS/glass chip that supports precise media delivery and monitoring while preserving incubation conditions, making it ideal for morphological studies. We demonstrated the platform's ability to maintain metabolic stability and media distribution over time using cerebral organoids. This platform improves organoid research by combining microfluidics, automation, and imaging, enhancing disease modeling, drug testing, and regenerative medicine applications.