Culturing cells in three-demensional configuration using hydrogel encapsulation method on microfluidic platform.

• Main Author: Chen, Joann Yiwen.
• Other Authors: School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Bioengineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/52851
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

In this paper, a microfluidic device with the support of hydrogel encapsulation method was developed for biocompatible microenvironment. As optimum cell-cell distance is crucial for cell survival and proliferation, we had seed cell densities of varying concentration in the microfluidic channel to achieve a better fit with the platform. The optimum cell-hydrogel mixture was then seeded into the designated channel and at the same time, the cells were 3-dimensionally immobilized and encapsulated. A new procedure for cell immobilization had also been introduced in this paper where we had established gelatin barrier with the aid of micropillar array. Porcine meniscus cells were cultured in 3-dimensional configuration in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidics platform for 3 weeks. We had made a comparison between cells that were cultured in the microfluidic device with cells that were cultured in well made of PDMS in terms of cell proliferation, morphology and viability and shown that microfluidic channel microenvironment is more conducive for cells’ proliferation as compared to PDMS well. This was likely due to the high degree of cell-cell interaction that was made possible within the microfludic channel and the utilization of hydrogel encapsulation method. This microfluidic platform mimics in vivo 3-dimensional microenvironment and has the potential for the applications such tissue culturing and tissue assay.