Issue 15, 2011

Integrated and diffusion-based micro-injectors for open access cell assays

Abstract

Currently, most microfluidic devices are fabricated with embedded micro-channels and other elements in a close form with outward connections. Although much functionality has been demonstrated and a large number of applications have been developed, they are not easy for routine operation in biology laboratories where most in vitrocell processing still relies on the use of culture dishes, glass slides, multi-well plates, tubes, pipettes, etc. We report here an open access device which consists of an array of isolated micro-channels plated on a large culture surface, each of them having tiny nozzles for localized drug delivery. In a diffusion dominant regime, steady gradients of molecule concentration could be obtained and varied by changing the flow rate inside the micro-channels. As assay examples, cell staining and drug-induced cell apoptosis were demonstrated, showing fast cell responses in close proximity of the nozzles.

Graphical abstract: Integrated and diffusion-based micro-injectors for open access cell assays

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
25 Mar 2011
Accepted
04 May 2011
First published
07 Jun 2011

Lab Chip, 2011,11, 2612-2617

Integrated and diffusion-based micro-injectors for open access cell assays

X. Li, L. Liu, L. Wang, K. Kamei, Q. Yuan, F. Zhang, J. Shi, A. Kusumi, M. Xie, Z. Zhao and Y. Chen, Lab Chip, 2011, 11, 2612 DOI: 10.1039/C1LC20258H

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