Issue 24, 2016

Transient microfluidic compartmentalization using actionable microfilaments for biochemical assays, cell culture and organs-on-chip

Abstract

We report here a simple yet robust transient compartmentalization system for microfluidic platforms. Cylindrical microfilaments made of commercially available fishing lines are embedded in a microfluidic chamber and employed as removable walls, dividing the chamber into several compartments. These partitions allow tight sealing for hours, and can be removed at any time by longitudinal sliding with minimal hydrodynamic perturbation. This allows the easy implementation of various functions, previously impossible or requiring more complex instrumentation. In this study, we demonstrate the applications of our strategy, firstly to trigger chemical diffusion, then to make surface co-coating or cell co-culture on a two-dimensional substrate, and finally to form multiple cell-laden hydrogel compartments for three-dimensional cell co-culture in a microfluidic device. This technology provides easy and low-cost solutions, without the use of pneumatic valves or external equipment, for constructing well-controlled microenvironments for biochemical and cellular assays.

Graphical abstract: Transient microfluidic compartmentalization using actionable microfilaments for biochemical assays, cell culture and organs-on-chip

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
13 Sep 2016
Accepted
21 Oct 2016
First published
21 Oct 2016
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Lab Chip, 2016,16, 4691-4701

Transient microfluidic compartmentalization using actionable microfilaments for biochemical assays, cell culture and organs-on-chip

A. Yamada, R. Renault, A. Chikina, B. Venzac, I. Pereiro, S. Coscoy, M. Verhulsel, M. C. Parrini, C. Villard, J. Viovy and S. Descroix, Lab Chip, 2016, 16, 4691 DOI: 10.1039/C6LC01143H

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