The Cluster of Excellence 'Microbiomes Drive Planetary Health' in Austria integrates environmental and medical microbiome research to advance both fields. Its primary scientific aim is to deeply understand how microbiomes function and interact in various ecosystems, such as the human gut, soils, and the deep sea. This integrative study aims to link microbial activity with environmental and human health, contributing significantly to planetary well-being. Within this cluster, the Cell Chip group is crucial, supporting partners with microfluidic Organ-on-a-chip and Lab-on-a-chip technologies. It trains early-stage researchers in designing, simulating, and understanding microfluidic systems, along with rapid prototyping for creating specialized devices. A major initiative of this group is developing a 'root-on-a-chip' platform. This project focuses on the symbiotic relationships between plant roots, fungi, and bacteria, crucial for understanding plant nutrient dynamics. Despite its importance, this area remains underexplored, making the 'root-on-a-chip' project a key part of the Cluster's broader objectives.

Grant agreement number: 101095084

In many industrial processes, thermal energy is generated as a byproduct and often wasted, while energy is simultaneously used elsewhere to produce heat. To improve this inefficient energy management, novel solutions are needed for better energy storage and reuse, reducing costs and primary energy consumption. Thermochemical energy storage, particularly using copper sulfate, offers a promising solution. Copper sulfate reacts with ammonia to release heat, functioning like a battery that can be charged and discharged by controlling temperature.

Integrating copper sulfate in a microfluidic system allows for precise control of the reaction and heat release. The heat generated is absorbed by a liquid, like thermal oil, and carried away for storage. The system consists of two-layer microchannel structures: the upper layer for ammonia flow and reaction with copper sulfate, and the lower layer for the heat-absorbing medium. This setup enables effective heat collection and transportation.

These miniaturized reactors can be connected modularly for extensive use, allowing the stored heat to be utilized whenever needed in the production process, enhancing overall energy efficiency.

Rheumatic diseases affect over 40% of Europe's population, causing significant health and economic burdens due to chronic inflammation, pain, and disability. These diseases involve joints, connective tissues, and organs. Emerging research highlights the gut microbiome's crucial role in immune response, linking gut health to rheumatic disorders. Our EU project “ENDOTARGET” aims to explore this connection by investigating how lipopolysaccharides from the gut microbiome may trigger rheumatic diseases. We're using advanced, sensor-integrated microfluidic technology to mimic and monitor the gut barrier on a microscale. This includes analyzing changes in barrier leakiness, tightness, and structure when exposed to pathogenic lipopolysaccharides. Our goal is to understand how these substances cross the gut barrier and potentially incite inflammation, hoping to inform new treatments for rheumatic conditions. ENDOTARGET unites partners to advance rheumatology through this innovative approach, combining microfluidics and gut-rheumatic disease research.

Tendon disorders, a prevalent orthopaedic issue, often lead to incomplete healing, fibrotic scars, chronic tendinopathy, and increased risk of tendon ruptures due to the inadequacy of current treatments. This is partly because animal models do not effectively mimic the complex pathophysiology of human tendon diseases. Our 'µtendon-on-a-chip' project aims to create a human- and disease-relevant microphysiological model of tendon disorders, reducing reliance on animal models in line with the 3R (reduce, refine, replace) approach. Collaborating with the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, the Medical University of Vienna, and the Vienna University of Technology, we will develop a microfluidic tendon model. This model will be used for human, rat, and horse tendons to assess consistency across species and validate against existing preclinical and clinical data. Supported by the FWF, this project seeks to establish a reliable in vitro platform for tendon disease research, uncover the mechanisms of tendinopathy, and aid in creating new treatments.

Grant agrrement number: P 36364-B

Despite comprehensive international agreements and a verification regime to control the production and use of chemical warfare agents, including the group of nerve agents (GA, GB, GD, GF and VX), they still pose a threat potential that should not be underestimated due to the probability of occurrence of terrorist scenarios. This assumption is justified by the proliferation of materials and relatively simple chemical technologies for their production. Uniform long-term and short-term studies on the uptake and toxicity of warfare agents are largely lacking, which makes a reliable risk assessment based on the existing heterogeneous data landscape extremely difficult. The BodyTox 2.0 consortium will develop the first 'fit-for-purpose' body-on-a-chip system for neurotoxin studies, enabling individualized and non-invasive organ-specific readout by integrating gas-tight lab-on-a-chip strategies and non-invasive microsensors. By combining the interdisciplinary expertise in the consortium, the body-on-a-chip technology to be developed will stand out significantly from the stand-of-the-art systems for toxicological evaluation.

Grant agreement number: FO999895153

The "MatureTissue" doctoral college, a collaborative initiative between the University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien (UASTW) and TU Wien (TUW), focuses on advancing the maturation of artificial musculoskeletal tissues using bioreactor and microfluidic technologies. This project aims to train a new generation of highly skilled PhD students in innovative methods for creating mature engineered tissues. These tissues, resembling human musculoskeletal tissue, are developed from cell assemblies, including stem cells, and scaffold materials, employing advanced 3D cell culture and bioprinting techniques. Achieving maturation of these constructs is crucial for developing new therapeutic methods, particularly for the growing number of people suffering from acute or chronic musculoskeletal conditions. The research specifically targets the development of tendons, cartilage, bones, and muscles.