Development of Microfluidic Cell Culture Platforms for Investigating Cellular Phenomena

Abstract

Microfluidic systems provide numerous features and advantages that make them well-suited for investigations of interesting phenomena in cell biology. Several microfluidic cell culture platforms were developed to probe cell interactions and behaviors. First, an oil barrier and a membrane valve device were designed to investigate direct contact cell-cell interactions in two- and three-dimensional environments. Next, extracellular signaling between cell populations was examined using a novel microfluidic ligand trap system with the capability of targeting specific signaling pathways. In another project, a microfluidic stretcher platform was used to explore the role of mechanical stress on healthy cells in the developing tumor microenvironment. Finally, a microfluidic system incorporating graphene components was used to study the electrical properties of synaptic interactions between neurons through scanning photocurrent microscopy. The successful implementation of these microfluidic cell culture systems demonstrates the potential of this type of technology for cell biology research and provides a foundation on which to continue the advancement of our understanding of complex biological systems.