3D printed organs-on-chips for personalized medicine.

Lab-Grown Organs: How 3D Printing is Revolutionizing Personalized Medicine

Rhea Morgan in Tech & Innovation December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how modular microfluidic chips, customized through 3D printing, are paving the way for personalized organ-on-a-chip systems."

In recent years, there has been a growing need for technologies that can solve issues relating to medicine, chemistry and bioengineering, with microfluidics being a key solution to solve these complex problems. Microfluidic systems allow scientists to conduct experiments and analysis on a very small scale, using tiny channels to control fluid flow and reactions. This high level of control makes them ideal for a variety of applications, including drug discovery, diagnostics, and tissue engineering.

One of the most promising applications of microfluidics is the development of organs-on-chips. These are small, artificial organs that mimic the structure and function of real human organs. By creating these miniature organs, researchers can study the effects of drugs and other treatments in a more realistic and controlled environment than traditional cell cultures or animal models. This leads to more effective and personalized medicine.

However, creating these intricate microfluidic devices can be challenging. Traditional methods of fabrication are time-consuming, expensive, and often lack the flexibility needed to create complex designs. This is where 3D printing comes in. By using 3D printing, researchers can create customized microfluidic chips quickly and efficiently, opening up new possibilities for personalized medicine.

The Power of Modular Microfluidic Chips

3D printed organs-on-chips for personalized medicine.

A new study highlights a innovative method for rapidly customizing 3D integrated microfluidic chips using modular structure-based design. This approach utilizes 3D printing to create sacrificial templates, which are then used to fabricate PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) slices with specific modular structures. By combining these PDMS slices with other functional components, researchers can create complex microfluidic chips tailored to specific applications.

The process begins with designing modular patterns using CAD (computer-aided design) software. These designs are then 3D printed using a fused maltitol material, which creates a template on a smooth substrate. PDMS, a biocompatible polymer, is poured over the template and cured, forming a slice with the desired microfluidic channels and structures. The maltitol is then dissolved, leaving behind a functional PDMS slice.

Rapid Customization: PDMS slices with modular structures are produced in under an hour.
Reusable Components: PDMS slices can be reused and rapidly fabricated, allowing for quick design iterations.
Biocompatible Materials: The use of PDMS ensures high biocompatibility for cell culture and biological analysis.
High Resolution: Smooth channel surfaces and high resolution are guaranteed, enabling precise control over fluid flow.
Low Cost: This method reduces the cost of microfluidic chip production, making it accessible to a wider range of researchers.

To demonstrate the potential of this method, the researchers created several customized microfluidic chips, including a 3D cell culture chip and a 3D mixing chip. These chips were assembled by combining different PDMS slices with porous membranes and electronic components. The chips were then used for cell culture, drug testing, and biological analysis, showcasing the versatility and effectiveness of the modular design.

The Future of Personalized Medicine

The development of these modular microfluidic chips represents a significant step forward in personalized medicine. By creating customized organs-on-chips, researchers can study the effects of drugs and other treatments on individual patients in a more accurate and efficient way. This could lead to the development of more effective and targeted therapies, ultimately improving patient outcomes. As 3D printing technology continues to advance, the possibilities for creating complex and customized microfluidic devices are endless, paving the way for a future where personalized medicine is a reality.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.7b00401, Alternate LINK

Title: Rapid Customization Of 3D Integrated Microfluidic Chips Via Modular Structure-Based Design

Subject: Biomedical Engineering

Journal: ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering

Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)

Authors: Jingjiang Qiu, Qing Gao, Haiming Zhao, Jianzhong Fu, Yong He

Published: 2017-09-15

Everything You Need To Know

How are these custom microfluidic chips created?

The innovative method uses 3D printing to create customized microfluidic chips using a modular structure-based design. This involves creating sacrificial templates with a fused maltitol material. PDMS slices, with specific modular structures are created and combined with other functional components. This allows for rapid customization, reusability, biocompatibility, high resolution and cost-effectiveness in creating these essential components.

Why are modular microfluidic chips so important?

Modular microfluidic chips are critical because they enable the creation of organs-on-chips. These artificial organs mimic real human organs, allowing researchers to study drug effects and treatments in a controlled environment. This advancement surpasses traditional cell cultures or animal models, leading to more effective and personalized medicine. The ability to customize these chips with 3D printing is key, as it allows for rapid design iterations and tailored solutions for specific applications.

What is the significance of using 3D printing in this context for personalized medicine?

The use of 3D printing in creating customized microfluidic chips significantly impacts personalized medicine by enabling the creation of organs-on-chips. This allows for studying drug effects on individual patients accurately and efficiently. The implications are profound: leading to more effective, targeted therapies and improved patient outcomes. Moreover, the rapid customization and cost-effectiveness of this method make it accessible to a wider range of researchers, accelerating advancements in the field.

Why is PDMS used in the construction of these microfluidic chips?

PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) is used because it is a biocompatible polymer, essential for cell culture and biological analysis within the microfluidic chips. The PDMS is poured over the 3D printed templates and cured, forming slices with the microfluidic channels. These slices are then combined with other components, such as porous membranes and electronic components to create complex microfluidic chips for various applications. Its biocompatibility is critical to ensure the cells or biological samples being studied remain viable and unaffected by the chip material.

Can you explain how the researchers are able to create the customized microfluidic chips?

Researchers can create customized microfluidic chips by designing modular patterns using CAD software, which are then 3D printed using a fused maltitol material to create a template. The PDMS is then poured over the template, cured, and the maltitol is dissolved, leaving behind functional PDMS slices. These slices are then combined with other components to assemble the complete chip. This method facilitates rapid customization, reusability, high resolution, and cost-effectiveness, making it ideal for applications in personalized medicine and biological analysis.