This microfluidic device consists of an open well connected at its base through a porous membrane to a fluidic channel. Some applications for this device would include:

• Epithelial/endothelial barrier models where the air-liquid interface plays a significant role: skin, respiratory tract (airway tract), cornea.
• Muscle models: Co-culture of muscle layer with vasculature subjected to relevant shear stress.
• Co-cultivation in both 2D and 3D
• Unfolding organoids onto the porous membrane.
• Invasion, cell migration, and metastasis processes between compartments by selecting the appropriate pore size.
• Circulating particle assays involving immune system cells, vesicles, nanoparticles, encapsulated drugs, circulating tumor cells, bacteria, virus, under blood flow conditions.
• Crosstalk between different cultures. In an interconnected organ system, communication between compartments can impact the biological response of one of the organs. Some examples include lung-cardiovascular or muscle-skeletal-bone.
• 3D printing. The open well with adjustable size allows integration of different materials, creation of structures, and control of architecture and cell arrangement in 3D culture.

Compatible techniques for device use:

High-resolution microscopy for live and fixed cells: immunofluorescence, SEM.

• Membrane extraction with cultured cells for applications such as histology or SEM.
• Cell extraction for flow cytometry, qPCR, or western blot.
• Liquid exchange control and automation.
• Permeability assays.
• Optical mapping.
• Plate reader.