Organ-on-a-chip technology has shown great potential in disease modeling
and drug evaluation. However, traditional organ-on-a-chip devices are
mostly pump-dependent with low throughput, which makes it difficult to
leverage their advantages. In this study, we have developed a generic,
pump-free organ-on-a-chip platform consisting of a 32-unit chip and an
adjustable rocker, facilitating high-throughput dynamic cell culture
with straightforward operation. By utilizing the rocker to induce
periodic fluid forces, we can achieve fluidic conditions similar to
those obtained with traditional pump-based systems. Through constructing
a gut-on-a-chip model, we observed remarkable enhancements in the
expression of barrier-associated proteins and the spatial distribution
of differentiated intestinal cells compared to static culture.
Furthermore, RNA sequencing analysis unveiled enriched pathways
associated with cell proliferation, lipid transport and drug metabolism,
indicating the ability of the platform to mimic critical physiological
processes. Additionally, we tested seven drugs which represent a range
of high, medium, and low in vivo permeability using this model and found
a strong correlation between their Papp values and human Fa, indicating
reliable and predictive simulation outcomes for drug absorption. Our
findings highlight the potential of this pump-free organ-on-a-chip
platform as a valuable tool for advancing drug development and enabling
personalized medicine.