Fluidic systems design for physiologically relevant in-vitro models

This PhD thesis is focused on the design, realization and characterization of fluidic devices that could be useful to develop new physiologically relevant in-vitro models. The word “relevant” in the title is referred to the correspondence between in-vitro models and physiology. In fact in a multi organ models it is important to maintain physiological ratios between tissues. These ratios can be correlated to cell numbers, to cell seeding surface areas or to the volume of fresh blood that reaches each tissue. Allometry is the science that permits the establishment of ratios between physiological vales and in-vitro characteristics. In my thesis some in-vitro models are studied using an allometric approach in order to analyze cross talk between different cell types. During my thesis several new bioreactors were studied and improved in order to establish new in-vitro models for the physiological barriers and cross talk between different organs. The last part of the thesis is dedicated to the design and realization of a new system. To facilitate biological and cell culture studies, this new system attempts to merge bioreactors technical evolutions with common cell culture multiwell plate specifications and standard protocol of analysis. The innovative device has been patented.