DLOC Biosystems partners with 42T to develop ‘human-on-chip’ system

July 2023

DLOC’s vision is to develop a compact and modular ‘human-on-chip’ system that will also be the world’s first to integrate interconnected modular organs with real-time measurement using in-built spectrophotometry and microscopy.

The new system will enable DLOC to launch a pre-clinical 'trials-on-chip' testing service for pharmaceutical companies and contract research organisations, the aim being to reduce the cost of drug development while increasing the safety of human trials.

Gloved technician's hands hold microfluidics chips within a frame for testing in a lab Pictured: the system will connect multiple microfluidic biochips together, such as those shown above, to create accurate biomimetic models of renal, hepatic, mammary and other ductal tissues

DLOC Biosystems (DLOC), a spin-out from the American University of Beirut, has appointed 42 Technology (42T) as a strategic product development partner to help bring its advanced 3D human-on-chip technology and fully-automated operating system to market.

The appointment follows a series of technical reviews and system design projects with 42T over the last 18 months that were specifically designed to help DLOC strengthen the patents protecting its core technology before starting its next phase of development.

3 DLOC Biosystems biochip tray Above: DLOC is using state-of-the-art advances in micromanufacturing to fabricate its patented microfluidic biochips

DLOC’s existing microfluidic biochips, which include proprietary features such as ultrathin 3D porous scaffolds, are already being used to create accurate biomimetic models of mammary, pancreatic, renal and other ductal tissues.

But as a next step, the company plans to develop a fully-automated ‘human-on-chip’ system to connect multiple chips of different tissue types together: to enable more practical and versatile modelling and determinations of tissues recapitulating in vivo organs.

As a result of this new partnership, 42T will now work alongside DLOC’s in-house engineering team on an 18-month phased development programme to design a prototype system that can be used to emulate the complete structure and function of ductal tissues and to monitor them in real time. The work is due to start within the next few months.

Partners in development

Waddah Malaeb, CEO and co-founder of DLOC, says, “42 Technology is the ideal development partner to help boost the intensive system development programme that’s already ongoing within DLOC’s own laboratories and manufacturing facility, and with our university partners.

The company’s engineering team is well known for its collaborative approach, as well as having significant expertise in areas such as microfluidics, high-precision mechanical engineering and system design.”

DLOC Biosystems partners with 42T to develop ‘human-on-chip’ system Above: DLOC has been working with 42 Technology over the last 18 months to strengthen its core patents, such as those protecting its unique microfluidic biochips

42T’s projects for this next phase will include optimising the design of DLOC biochips for high-volume manufacture, developing the design for a prototype ‘human-on-chip’ system, and developing and integrating some key subsystems.

The work will also potentially help DLOC file additional patents to further protect its latest design and technology breakthroughs.

DLOC’s vision is to develop a compact and modular ‘human-on-chip’ system that will also be the world’s first to integrate interconnected modular organs with real-time measurement using in-built spectrophotometry and microscopy.

The new system will enable DLOC to launch a pre-clinical trials-on-chip testing service for pharmaceutical companies and contract research organisations, the aim being to reduce the cost of drug development while increasing the safety of human trials.

More about DLOC Biosystems

DLOC Biosystems (DLOC) is a biotechnology start-up, spun out from the American University of Beirut in 2018, that won the Arab world’s leading science competition and TV show Qatar Foundation’s Stars-of-Science in 2020. The company was founded to develop an innovative organ-on-chip device to grow human micro-tissues in the lab that resemble the micro environment of in vivo tissues.

DLOC is a contract research organisation that plans to start selling its on-chip testing services within the next 18 months to help pharmaceutical companies determine the possible clinical failure of some drugs at an earlier stage in the drug discovery process.

4 DLOC Biosystems culture media for seeded biochips Above: DLOC's microfluidic biochips contain proprietary features such as ultrathin porous scaffolds to enable the growth of precise 3D micro-tissues and structures. This image shows supplying culture medium into super-slow rocking devices developed by DLOC to maintain cell viability and functionality within the microfluidic chips

The company applies state-of-the-art advances in micro-manufacturing to fabricate its patented innovative chip design that allows growing precise 3D micro-tissues for cell culture applications.

The supported 3D ductal scaffold allows for extreme accuracy, by giving structural support when developing the tissue, but still provides an open environment with the surrounding tissue. This creates a tissue with high resemblance to physiological conditions, also in its response to drugs.

For further information, please visit dlocbiosystems.com

More about 42T

42 Technology (42T) is a product design and innovation consultancy that helps to create innovative new products and manufacturing processes for some of the world’s best-known brands, as well as start-ups and SMEs.

We work across three key sectors: consumer, industrial, and healthcare and life sciences.

The team comprises engineers, scientists and designers, and offers a diverse range of skillsets that includes ethnographic research and usability engineering, product and system design, device testing and regulatory compliance.

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