Rapid Prototyping of Compartmentalized 3D Microfluidic Devices for Organotypic Cell Culture

We present a modular microfluidic platform for constructing miniaturized, compartmentalized cell culture systems that support monoculture, co-culture, and organ-on-a-chip models of human tissues. The devices provide architecturally defined three-dimensional microenvironments in which heterogeneous cell populations can be cultured in close proximity while maintaining precise spatial organization and independent access to each compartment. In vivo-like perfusion into, from, and between adjacent chambers is achieved via micro-engineered porous barriers that act as perfusion microchannels, enabling controlled convective and diffusive transport and recapitulating paracrine signaling between tissue units. As a proof of concept, we implement an adipose–immune co-culture model that reproduces key features of inflamed, insulin-resistant adipose tissue, including altered cytokine secretion and glucose uptake. Together, these features establish a versatile platform for the biofabrication of customizable single-organ and multi-organ in vitro models that more faithfully recapitulate human tissue structure and function for applications in disease modeling, immunometabolic studies, and preclinical drug testing.