Ready-to-Use Nanofiber Membrane-Integrated Organ-on-a-Chip via Cryopreservation of Cell-Loaded Microfluidic Chip

Nanofiber (NF) membrane-integrated organ-on-a-chip platforms enhance in vitro tissue barrier models by mimicking in vivo microenvironments. However, their widespread adoption has been hindered by technical complexities such as manual cell seeding. In this study, we developed ReadyChip, a cryopreserved, preseeded NF membrane-integrated organ-on-a-chip that is immediately usable upon thawing. ReadyChip showed robust post-thaw performance by preserving both the structural characteristics and compositional properties of the ECM-coated NF membrane. Its versatility was demonstrated through vascular, retinal, and blood-brain barrier models, each showing post-thaw cellular viability above 92% and sustained expression of functional markers that remained expressed after 7 days of perfusion culture. By eliminating the need for manual seeding and complex culture processes, ReadyChip offers a ready-to-use platform that enhances efficiency and practicality in both biomedical research and industrial applications.