Issue 6, 2007

A hydrogel-based microfluidic device for the studies of directed cell migration

Abstract

We have developed a hydrogel-based microfluidic device that is capable of generating a steady and long term linear chemical concentration gradient with no through flow in a microfluidic channel. Using this device, we successfully monitored the chemotactic responses of wildtype Escherichia coli (suspension cells) to α-methyl-DL-aspartate (attractant) and differentiated HL-60 cells (a human neutrophil-like cell line that is adherent) to formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (f-MLP, attractant). This device advances the current state of the art in microchemotaxis devices in that (1) it demonstrates the validity of using hydrogels as the building material for a microchemotaxis device; (2) it demonstrates the potential of the hydrogel based microfluidic device in biological experiments since most of the proteins and nutrients essential for cell survival are readily diffusible in hydrogel; (3) it is capable of applying chemical stimuli independently of mechanical stimuli; (4) it is straightforward to make, and requires very basic tools that are commonly available in biological labs. This device will also be useful in controlling the chemical and mechanical environment during the formation of tissue engineered constructs.

Graphical abstract: A hydrogel-based microfluidic device for the studies of directed cell migration

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
19 Dec 2006
Accepted
19 Mar 2007
First published
04 Apr 2007

Lab Chip, 2007,7, 763-769

A hydrogel-based microfluidic device for the studies of directed cell migration

S. Cheng, S. Heilman, M. Wasserman, S. Archer, M. L. Shuler and M. Wu, Lab Chip, 2007, 7, 763 DOI: 10.1039/B618463D

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