Current in vitro skin models do not recapitulate the
complex architecture and functions of the skin tissue. In par-
ticular, on-chip construction of an in vitro model comprising
the epidermis and dermis layer with vascular structure for
mass transport has not been reported yet. In this study, we
aim to develop a microfluidic, three-dimensional (3D) skin
chip with fluidic channels using PDMS and hydrogels. Mass
transport within the collagen hydrogel matrix was verified
with fluorescent model molecules, and a transport-reaction
model of oxygen and glucose inside the skin chip was devel-
oped to aid the design of the microfluidic skin chip.
Comparison of viabilities of dermal fibroblasts and HaCaT
cultured in the chip with various culture conditions revealed
that the presence of flow plays a crucial role in maintaining the
viability, and both cells were viable after 10 days of air expo-
sure culture. Our 3D skin chip with vascular structures can be
a valuable in vitro model for reproducing the interaction be-
tween different components of the skin tissue, and thus work

• Construction of 3D multicellular microfluidic chip for an in vitro skin model