Microfluidic cell culture systems are changing the very foundation of cellular research by providing unparalleled precision in the conditions under which cells grow and interact. At Protheragen, we focus on business concerning microfluidic devices, more specifically towards developing advanced microfluidic cell cubators to aid the pioneering research of drugs and therapies for ultra rare skin diseases.
Introduction to Microfluidic Cell Culture
The development of microfluidic devices has recently opened new possibilities for skin biology and pathophysiology to be studied on a deeper level. Such systems attempt to reconstruct the multilayered structure of human skin, which consists of epidermis, dermis and blood vessels, permitting the study of skin diseases, cancer, wound healing, immune response and far more. The SoC model is uniquely positioned to address the shortcomings inherent in conventional 2D cell culture and animal model systems, which is more accurately simulate human skin conditions.
Fig.1 Microfluidic device design, fabrication, and operation. (Teertam, Setaluri and Ayuso, 2025)
Microfluidics Models for Skin Research
Microfluidic skin models have dramatically changed the outlook on skin research, offering unparalleled skin disease and therapeutic evaluation with sufficient throughput and minimal reagent use. Such systems mimic the human skin environments and provide the study of numerous biological processes. Although such models have many advantages to offer over conventional systems, complex modeling of skin diseases and the tumor microenvironment remains a problem.
For the development of microfluidic devices, particular focus should be given to the dimensions of the tissue structures and the presence of an air-liquid interface in inducing keratinocyte differentiation. This interface is achieved with the aid of capillary forces which replicate the stratification of real skin.
Soft lithography, 3D printing, and injection molding are all capable of making micro devices, but they all have different perks. While 3D printing generates prototypes quickly, it is costlier and has lower resolution than Soft Lithography. Soft Lithography, on the other hand, has high spatial resolution and is economical with respect to cost.
Microfluidic Devices for Skin Biology
The further development of microfluidic devices for skin biology are represented by transferred skin-on-a-chip platforms and new in situ skin-on-a-chip platforms. Transferred platforms refer to devices where skin tissues or cells are integrated into a microfluidic system for perfusion. In situ platforms refer to devices where skin models are produced in the microfluidic device. Both methods enable complete environment control which facilitates advanced studies of skin biological processes.
Table1. Comparison of transferred skin-on-a-chip with in situ skin-on-a-chip platforms. (Fernandez-Carro et al., 2022)
| Category |
Transferred skin-on-a-chip |
In situ skin-on-a-chip |
| Cell/Tissue source |
Requires a tissue sample (e.g., skin biopsy) |
Requires one or multiple cell types (e.g., keratinocytes) and extracellular matrix proteins (e.g., collagen) |
| Design considerations |
Requires large chambers to host the skin sample |
Requires the generation of a stable air-liquid interface to induce keratinocyte stratification |
| Time required to establish in culture |
Few hours |
Several days to allow for keratinocyte stratification |
| Optical transparency/Microscopy compatibility |
Moderate to low depending on the tissue thickness. Imaging structures at the top of the tissue sample (hair follicle) might be difficult |
High bottom layer is often made of microscopy-grade glass to maximize optical quality |
| Control over tissue structure and composition |
Low-tissue structure and composition are imposed by sample donor |
High-tissue structure, dimensions, and cell composition/density are tunable |
| System perfusion |
System can be perfused by flowing medium underneath the tissue sample. Perfusion is not integrated with the tissue vasculature |
Endothelial cells can be assembled into perfusable vasculature. Better suited to study cell extra/intravascular and angiogenic response |
Our Services
Protheragen strives to provide an entire array of micromodels development services aimed to facilitate the investigation of rare dermatological diseases. Our team of expert scientists and researchers, with years of experience and specialization in advanced tissue engineering, combine their knowledge and creativity to develop precise and highly innovative microfluidics models ensuring accuracy and reliability at every stage of the model development process.
Microfluidic Cell Culture Development Service
Protheragen develops specialized microfluidics models for tissue culture to meet dynamic research objectives. We specialize in the development of microfluidic models that mimic the human tissue morphology and other relevant biological environment with the ability to flow liquid. Such models allow for the reliable investigation of pathological processes and rare disorders.
Types of Rare Skin Diseases
Why Choose Us?
Professional core technical team.
Advanced experimental equipment.
Empowering success through cooperation.
Strict quality control system.
Protheragen is a single trusted source for comprehensive, preclinical development services focused on skin diseases pathology and microfluidic cell chambers development. From diseases model development to drug safety evaluation, our services support every stage of your research process. If you are interested in our services, please don't hesitate to contact us.
References
- Fernandez-Carro, E., et al. "Modeling an Optimal 3d Skin-on-Chip within Microfluidic Devices for Pharmacological Studies." Pharmaceutics 14.7 (2022).
- Teertam, S. K., V. Setaluri, and J. M. Ayuso. "Advances in Microengineered Platforms for Skin Research." JID Innov 5.1 (2025): 100315.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use
only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
