Issue 3, 2007
From the journal:

Lab on a Chip

A novel 3D mammalian cell perfusion-culture system in microfluidic channels†

Yi-Chin Toh,ab   Chi Zhang,ab   Jing Zhang,a   Yuet Mei Khong,ab   Shi Chang,c   Victor D. Samper,‡a   Danny van Noort,a   Dietmar W. Hutmacherbgh  and  Hanry Yu*abcdef  

* Corresponding authors

a Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, Singapore
E-mail: hyu@ibn.a-star.edu.sg, nmiyuh@nus.edu.sg
Fax: +65-6516 8261
Tel: +65-6516 3466

b NUS Graduate Programme in Bioengineering, NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore

c Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore

d Singapore-MIT Alliance, E4-04-10, 4 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore

e NUS Tissue-Engineering Programme, DSO Labs, National University of Singapore, Singapore

f Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Hospital, Singapore

g Division of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore

h Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore

Abstract

Mammalian cells cultured on 2D surfaces in microfluidic channels are increasingly used in drug development and biological research applications. These systems would have more biological or clinical relevance if the cells exhibit 3D phenotypes similar to the cells in vivo. We have developed a microfluidic channel based system that allows cells to be perfusion-cultured in 3D by supporting them with adequate 3D cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions. The maximal cell–cell interaction was achieved by perfusion-seeding cells through an array of micropillars; and 3D cell–matrix interactions were achieved by a polyelectrolyte complex coacervation process to form a thin layer of matrix conforming to the 3D cell shapes. Carcinoma cell lines (HepG2, MCF7), primary differentiated (hepatocytes) and primary progenitor cells (bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells) were perfusion-cultured for 72 hours to 1 week in the microfluidic channel, which preserved their 3D cyto-architecture and cell-specific functions or differentiation competence. This transparent 3D microfluidic channel-based cell culture system also allows direct optical monitoring of cellular events for a wide range of applications.

Graphical abstract: A novel 3D mammalian cell perfusion-culture system in microfluidic channels

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Article information

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1039/B614872G
Article type
Paper
Submitted
16 Oct 2006
Accepted
21 Dec 2006
First published
23 Jan 2007

Lab Chip, 2007,7, 302-309

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A novel 3D mammalian cell perfusion-culture system in microfluidic channels

Y. Toh, C. Zhang, J. Zhang, Y. M. Khong, S. Chang, V. D. Samper, D. van Noort, D. W. Hutmacher and H. Yu, Lab Chip, 2007, 7, 302 DOI: 10.1039/B614872G

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