micROS

Astronauts are more susceptible to infection in space, and one hypothesis is that microgravity changes how immune cells, specifically macrophages, produce reactive oxygen species, or ROS, which they use to kill bacteria. Confirming that link in a controlled experiment has been hard because the relevant environments are hard to access.

micROS, a collaboration with the McGill Rocket Team, designed a microfluidic platform that delivers reagents to encapsulated macrophages during a rocket flight, capturing both microgravity and hypergravity conditions in a single experiment. The chip is 3D-printed with serpentine mixing channels and a microwell for the cell reaction, and the cells are embedded in an HA-PEG hydrogel crosslinked with collagen to mimic their native microenvironment.

The platform also includes a peristaltic perfusion system built from 3D-printed parts and an Arduino-controlled motor, with a fluorescence detection stage planned for the next iteration to read out ROS directly.