CellChip Group

We are developing microfluidic concepts and lab-on-a-chip systems for life sciences applications to (a) advance precision medicine, (b) facilitate quality control of biopharmaceutical products, and (c) reduce animal testing. Our research strategy brings together relevant engineering, analytical and biomedical expertise with the aim of bridging the “research-to-product gaps” in microfluidics, lab-on-a-chip systems, and organ-on-a-chip technology.

The main focus of our research is the design, fabrication, and testing of advanced organ-on-a-chip technologies, next-generation microfluidic devices for cell analysis, and miniaturized biosensing platforms. Sophisticated engineering of integrated platforms combining optical and electrical microsensors, miniaturized fluid handling systems, and electronic components is a key aspect of our research group.

In our Microfluidic HUB at the Vienna University of Technology, a variety of technologies are employed to provide rapid prototyping capabilities and small-series production of biochips such as soft lithography, xurography, micromachining, 3D-printing, photolithography, and hot embossing as well as CFD simulations. We also offer continuous education and training opportunities within the framework of existing studies and onsite training programs, as well as workshops and conferences.

Publications - Our Top 20

A Microfluidic Multisize Spheroid Array for Multiparametric Screening of Anticancer Drugs and Blood-Brain Barrier Transport Properties

Eilenberger, C., Rothbauer, M., Selinger, F., Gerhartl, A., Jordan, C., Harasek, M., . . . Ertl, P. (2021). A Microfluidic Multisize Spheroid Array for Multiparametric Screening of Anticancer Drugs and Blood-Brain Barrier Transport Properties. Advanced Science (Weinh), 8(11), e2004856. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202004856

An on-chip wound healing assay fabricated by xurography for evaluation of dermal fibroblast cell migration and wound closure

Shabestani Monfared, G., Ertl, P., & Rothbauer, M. (2020). An on-chip wound healing assay fabricated by xurography for evaluation of dermal fibroblast cell migration and wound closure. Nature Scientific Reports, 10(1), 16192. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-73055-7

Biosensing for Microphysiological Organs-on-a-Chip and Body-on-a-Chip Systems

Kratz, S. R. A., Höll, G., Schuller, P., Ertl, P., & Rothbauer, M. (2019). Latest Trends in Biosensing for Microphysiological Organs-on-a-Chip and Body-on-a-Chip Systems. Biosensors (Basel), 9(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/bios9030110

Every Breath You Take: Non-invasive Real-Time Oxygen Biosensing in Two- and Three-Dimensional Microfluidic Cell Models

Zirath, H., Rothbauer, M., Spitz, S., Bachmann, B., Jordan, C., Müller, B., . . . Ertl, P. (2018). Every Breath You Take: Non-invasive Real-Time Oxygen Biosensing in Two- and Three-Dimensional Microfluidic Cell Models. Frontiers on Physiology, 9, 815. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2018.00815

Small Force, Big Impact: Next Generation Organ-on-a-Chip Systems Incorporating Biomechanical Cues

Ergir, E., Bachmann, B., Redl, H., Forte, G., & Ertl, P. (2018). Small Force, Big Impact: Next Generation Organ-on-a-Chip Systems Incorporating Biomechanical Cues. Frontiers in Physiology, 9, 1417. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2018.01417

Microfluidic Migration and Wound Healing Assay Based on Mechanically Induced Injuries of Defined and Highly Reproducible Areas

Sticker, D., Lechner, S., Jungreuthmayer, C., Zanghellini, J., & Ertl, P. (2017). Microfluidic Migration and Wound Healing Assay Based on Mechanically Induced Injuries of Defined and Highly Reproducible Areas. Analytical Chemistry, 89(4), 2326-2333. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.6b03886

Recent advances and future applications of microfluidic live-cell microarrays

Rothbauer, M., Wartmann, D., Charwat, V., & Ertl, P. (2015). Recent advances and future applications of microfluidic live-cell microarrays. Biotechnology Advances, 33(6 Pt 1), 948-961. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biotechadv.2015.06.006

A Fast Alternative to Soft Lithography for the Fabrication of Organ-on-a-Chip Elastomeric-Based Devices and Microactuators

Ferreira, D. A., Rothbauer, M., Conde, J. P., Ertl, P., Oliveira, C., & Granja, P. L. (2021). A Fast Alternative to Soft Lithography for the Fabrication of Organ-on-a-Chip Elastomeric-Based Devices and Microactuators. Advanced Science (Weinh), 8(8), 2003273. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202003273

Monitoring tissue-level remodelling during inflammatory arthritis using a three-dimensional synovium-on-a-chip with non-invasive light scattering biosensing

Zanetti, C., Spitz, S., Berger, E., Bolognin, S., Smits, L. M., Crepaz, P., . . . Ertl, P. (2021). Monitoring the neurotransmitter release of human midbrain organoids using a redox cycling microsensor as a novel tool for personalized Parkinson's disease modelling and drug screening. Analyst, 146(7), 2358-2367. https://doi.org/10.1039/d0an02206c

Tomorrow today: organ-on-a-chip advances towards clinically relevant pharmaceutical and medical in vitro models

Rothbauer, M., Rosser, J. M., Zirath, H., & Ertl, P. (2019). Tomorrow today: organ-on-a-chip advances towards clinically relevant pharmaceutical and medical in vitro models. Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 55, 81-86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copbio.2018.08.009

Combinatorial in Vitro and in Silico Approach To Describe Shear-Force Dependent Uptake of Nanoparticles in Microfluidic Vascular Models

Charwat, V., Olmos Calvo, I., Rothbauer, M., Kratz, S. R. A., Jungreuthmayer, C., Zanghellini, J., . . . Ertl, P. (2018). Combinatorial in Vitro and in Silico Approach To Describe Shear-Force Dependent Uptake of Nanoparticles in Microfluidic Vascular Models. Analytical Chemistry, 90(6), 3651-3655. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.7b04788

Recent advances in microfluidic technologies for cell-to-cell interaction studies

Rothbauer, M., Zirath, H., & Ertl, P. (2017). Recent advances in microfluidic technologies for cell-to-cell interaction studies. Lab on a Chip, 18, 249-270. https://doi.org/10.1039/C7LC00815E

Simultaneous Determination of Oxygen and pH Inside Microfluidic Devices Using Core-Shell Nanosensors

Ehgartner, J., Strobl, M., Bolivar, J. M., Rabl, D., Rothbauer, M., Ertl, P., . . . Mayr, T. (2016). Simultaneous Determination of Oxygen and pH Inside Microfluidic Devices Using Core-Shell Nanosensors. Analytical Chemistry, 88(19), 9796-9804. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.6b02849

Anisotropic Crystalline Protein Nanolayers as Multi- Functional Biointerface for Patterned Co-Cultures of Adherent and Non-Adherent Cells in Microfluidic Devices

Rothbauer, M., Ertl, P., Theiler, B., Schlager, M., Sleytr, U. B., & Küpcü, S. (2015). Anisotropic Crystalline Protein Nanolayers as Multi- Functional Biointerface for Patterned Co-Cultures of Adherent and Non-Adherent Cells in Microfluidic Devices. ACS Advanced Materials & Interfaces, 2(1), 8020-8030. https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.201400309

Monitoring the neurotransmitter release of human midbrain organoids using a redox cycling microsensor as a novel tool for personalized Parkinson's disease modelling and drug screening

A Lab-on-a-Chip system with an embedded porous membrane-based impedance biosensor array for nanoparticle risk assessment on placental Bewo trophoblast cells

Schuller, P., Rothbauer, M., Kratz, S., Höll, G., Taus, P., Schinnerl, M., Bastus, N., Moriones, O., Puntes, V., Huppertz, B., Wanzenböck, H.D., Ertl, P. (2020).
A Lab-on-a-Chip system with an embedded porous membrane-based impedance biosensor array for nanoparticle risk assessment on placental Bewo trophoblast cells.
Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical,  312 127946. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2020.127946

Tunable Oxygen-Scavenging at the Small Scale - Fabrication of Microfluidic Biochips and Micro-Bioreactors for Biomedical Applications using Thiol-Ene-Epoxy Polymers

Sticker, D., Rothbauer, M., Ehgartner, J., Steininger, C., Liske, O., Neuhaus, W., Mayr, T., Haroldsson,T., Kuttner, J., Ertl, P. (2019).
Tunable Oxygen-Scavenging at the Small Scale - Fabrication of Microfluidic Biochips and Micro-Bioreactors for Biomedical Applications using Thiol-Ene-Epoxy Polymers.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 11, 10, S. 9730 - 9739. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsami.8b19641

Engineering of three-dimensional pre-vascular networks within fibrin hydrogel constructs by microfluidic control over reciprocal cell signalling

Bachmann, B., Spitz, S., Rothbauer, M., Jordan, C., Purtscher, M., Zirath, H., . . . Ertl, P. (2018). Engineering of three-dimensional pre-vascular networks within fibrin hydrogel constructs by microfluidic control over reciprocal cell signalling. Biomicrofluidics, 12(4), 042216. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5027054

Development of a Multifunctional Nanobiointerface Based on Self-Assembled Fusion-Protein rSbpA/ZZ for Blood Cell Enrichment and Phenotyping

Rothbauer, M., Frauenlob, M., Gutkas, K., Fischer, M. B., Sinner, E. K., Küpcü, S., & Ertl, P. (2017). Development of a Multifunctional Nanobiointerface Based on Self-Assembled Fusion-Protein rSbpA/ZZ for Blood Cell Enrichment and Phenotyping. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 9(39), 34423-34434. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.7b09041

Multi-layered, membrane-integrated microfluidics based on replica molding of a thiol-ene epoxy thermoset for organ-on-a-chip applications

Sticker, D., Rothbauer, M., Lechner, S., Hehenberger, M. T., & Ertl, P. (2015). Multi-layered, membrane-integrated microfluidics based on replica molding of a thiol-ene epoxy thermoset for organ-on-a-chip applications. Lab on a Chip, 15(24), 4542-4554. https://doi.org/10.1039/c5lc01028d