Integrated pneumatic micro-pump for automated glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in single-islet microfluidic platform

Diabetes, including all forms, remains a critical global health issue, affecting over 589 million adults and causing approximately 3.4 million deaths annually. Developing more relevant<i>in vitro</i>models for pancreatic islet functions is crucial for advancing diabetes research and therapy. Microfluidic platforms enable precise control over experimental conditions, notably the mechanical cues within the tissue microenvironment, thereby offering a powerful tool for studying cell behavior under physiologically relevant conditions. In this study, we introduce an automated stimulation platform for single-islet glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, while insulin quantification remains off-chip. This platform incorporates an integrated micro-pump and automated fluid handling, obviating the need for external injection devices. Using both EndoC-<i>β</i>H5® spheroids and human donor islets, we demonstrate that the platform ensures high islet viability and functionality. This scalable and reproducible system represents a significant advancement in-depth studies of islet function, with broad applications for diabetes research and personalized treatment strategies.