Organ-Chips are small, flexible devices that contain two parallel channels. Many types of human-relevant cells can be seeded into these channels, including primary cells, iPSCs, organoids, and immune cells.

The channels are separated by a thin, porous membrane that creates a tissue-vascular interface for cell-cell communication. This membrane is coated with a tissue-specific extracellular matrix (ECM), helping to further drive tissue maturation as one would see in vivo.

Using Emulate Organ-Chips, researchers can easily control and finely tune media flow and cyclic stretch, emulating the mechanical forces cells experience in the body—such as peristalsis in the intestines, breathing in lungs, and blood flow through vessels.

When combined, these features result in more in vivo-relevant gene expression, morphology, and functionality than is possible with conventional cell culture methods, leading to more human-relevant results.

Emulate has developed a variety of Organ-Chip models, including the Liver-Chip, Kidney-Chip, Colon Intestine-Chip, and Duodenum Intestine-Chip, with thorough characterization data and detailed culture protocols. The Lung-Chip and Brain-Chip can be created as guided models, using Emulate guidelines and customer-sourced cells.

The Emulate user community has used the  Human Emulate System to model over 30 types of tissues, including bone marrow, lymph node, vagina, colorectal cancer, and more. Emulate's team of scientific experts is ready to support researchers interested in creating their own unique model using Organ-Chips.

A wide variety of human cells can be cultured using Emulate Organ-Chips, including primary cells, iPSCs, organoids, and immune cells.

For modeling the liver, kidney, or intestine (duodenum or colon), Emulate offers BioKits that include Organ-Chips, Pods, and pre-qualified human cells. For modeling other human tissues, Emulate offers the Basic Research Kit, which include Organ-Chips and Pods, allowing researchers to use their own cell sourcing.

Emulate offers three types of Organ-Chip consumables for modeling a diverse range of human biology.

The Chip-S1 Stretchable Chip features two parallel microfluidic channels that enable users to create epithelial-endothelial models that require stretch to mimic physiological functions such as peristalsis or breathing.

The Chip-R1 Rigid Chip features similar architecture as Chip-S1, except it is made with low-drug-absorbing rigid plastics, making it well suited for epithelial-endothelial models that do not require stretch, or models that will be treated with lipophilic small molecules.

The Chip-A1 Accessible Chip features an accessible culture chamber in the top channel, enabling users to model complex 3D tissues with the ability to directly apply topical or aerosolized drugs. With these features, Chip-A1 can be used to create a wide variety of models ranging from tumor microenvironments to stratified skin models.

Learn more about the Emulate Organ-Chip portfolio here.

Yes. For researchers interested in the benefits of Organ-on-a-Chip technology without committing internal resources to bringing it in house, Emulate Contract Research Services offer an easy way to obtain rapid and robust insights into human response.