On September 23rd, Hande Aydogmus successfully defended her PhD thesis titled “Integrated Sensors for Organ-on-Chip Platforms.” In her research, she explored the integration of CMOS-compatible cleanroom fabrication methods and field-effect transistor (FET)-based devices into Organ-on-Chips as sensors.
She developed a compact sensor that can be integrated into cell culturing platforms for electrochemical sensing, eliminating the need for an external and bulky reference electrode by employing a more differential measurement approach. Recognizing pH as a key indicator of homeostasis and an important factor in disease mechanism investigations, she demonstrated the integration of different metal oxide layers to serve as pH sensing layers.
Furthermore, she created a silicon-PDMS transistor-based electrochemical sensor that offers optical transparency and flexibility for cell culturing applications. Her research also included using this platform as a recording setup for electrogenically active cells, specifically hiPSC-derived cortical neurons (collaboration with Leiden University Medical Center). Additionally, she presented preliminary results indicating the potential of the same sensor with a potassium-sensitive layer and gold nanofilm decoration to enhance sensitivity and selectivity towards specific ions or aptamer binding.
This research underscores the significance of integrating CMOS-compatible fabrication methods and sensors into organ-on-chip (OoC) systems, facilitating real-time, compact and localized monitoring of cell culture environments.
