Draper Develops Sustained Immune Cell Recirculation in Microphysiological System

New platform enables long-term study of immune response in disease modeling

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Draper scientists have successfully produced an extended recirculation of immune cells, specifically primary human neutrophils, in a high-throughput microphysiological system (MPS) called PREDICT96. The team achieved long-term recirculation of up to 24 hours with high cell viability and low activation, overcoming previous challenges in maintaining the delicate, short-lived nature of immune cells in MPS platforms.

Why it matters

The ability to model physiologically relevant immune cell circulation in an MPS platform is a significant advancement, as the immune response plays a critical role in injury, infection, and disease. This development will enable more accurate modeling and understanding of human (patho)physiology in a variety of contexts, supporting efforts to reduce animal testing and improve the characterization of biothreats.

The details

To protect the cells from high shear forces in the pump manifold, the Draper team adjusted aspects of the pump controller and pump dynamics, reducing fluid velocity and acceleration. They also modified the media to maintain the cells in suspension during recirculation, and developed a system-level model to enable highly controllable cell flow dynamics.

  • The research paper describing these achievements was published in Lab on a Chip on February 18, 2026.

The players

Draper

A non-profit research, development, and manufacturing company that solves important challenges, with a focus on strategic systems, space systems, electronic systems, and biotechnology systems.

Elizabeth Wiellette, Ph.D.

A Lab Fellow at Draper who stated that the ability to deliver immune cell-rich flow in a high-throughput MPS platform will enable more accurate modeling and understanding of human (patho)physiology.

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What they’re saying

“This is a very impactful development for the field because the immune response plays a critical role in injury, infection, and disease. The ability to deliver immune cell-rich flow in a high-throughput MPS platform will enable more accurate modeling and understanding of human (patho)physiology in a variety of contexts.”

— Elizabeth Wiellette, Ph.D., Lab Fellow

What’s next

The work demonstrates that New Approach Methodologies (NAMS), including MPS such as PREDICT96, can play a critical role in improving the capacity to accurately and rapidly characterize biothreats, and addresses critical gaps in the Food and Drug Administration's regulatory and scientific enterprises, including the mandate to reduce the prevalence of animal testing in pre-clinical safety studies.

The takeaway

Draper's achievement in developing a microphysiological system that can sustain the recirculation of immune cells, specifically neutrophils, for up to 24 hours with high viability and low activation represents a significant advancement in the field. This platform will enable more accurate modeling of human physiology and pathophysiology, supporting efforts to reduce animal testing and improve the characterization of biothreats.