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 <i>in vitro</i> tissue barrier models by mimicking <i>in vivo</i> 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.