3D microfluidic perfuison cell culture system with linear concentration gradient and air bubble trapping

Abstract

This paper presents a 3D microfluidic perfusion cell culture system to mimic microenvironments. The perfusion system is integrated with bubble trapping reservoir, linear concentration generator and meandered microchannel mixer. The sudden expansion reservoir to prevent incoming of air bubbles by using buoyancy is examined. Also, for high throughput screening, the linear concentration gradient generator connected with efficient meandered channel mixer is developed. We evaluate the performance of key components numerically and experimentally. Finally, the 3D perfusion system with linear gradient of concentration of H2O2 examines cytotoxicity of muscle cells with Ewing's sarcoma.