A Microfluidic Device with Groove Patterns for Studying Cellular Behavior

Summary

We describe a protocol for the fabrication of microfluidic devices that can enable cell capture and culture. In this approach patterned microstructures such as grooves within microfluidic channels are used to create low shear stress regions within which cell can dock.

Abstract

We describe a microfluidic device with microgrooved patterns for studying cellular behavior. This microfluidic platform consists of a top fluidic channel and a bottom microgrooved substrate. To fabricate the microgrooved channels, a top poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) mold containing the impression of the microfluidic channels was aligned and bonded to a microgrooved substrate. Using this device, mouse fibroblast cells were immobilized and patterned within microgrooved substrates (25, 50, 75, and 100 μm wide). To study apoptosis in a microfluidic device, media containing hydrogen peroxide, Annexin V, and propidium iodide was perfused into the fluidic channel for 2 hours. We found that cells exposed to the oxidative stress became apoptotic. These apoptotic cells were confirmed by Annexin V that bound to phosphatidylserine at the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane during the apoptosis process. Using this microfluidic device with microgrooved patterns, the apoptosis process was observed in real-time and analyzed by using an inverted microscope containing an incubation chamber (37°C, 5% CO₂). Therefore, this microfluidic device incorporated with microgrooved substrates could be useful for studying the cellular behavior and performing high-throughput drug screening.

Protocol

A. Microfabrication of the microfluidic device

1. 4-inch Si wafer is treated with reactive oxygen plasma (5 min at 30W, Harrick Scientific, NY).
2. Negative photoresist (SU-8 2015, Microchem, MA) is spin-coated at 900 rpm for 1 min on a Si wafer.
3. The wafer is soft baked at 95°C for 6 min on a hotplate and is exposed to UV light (200W) for 4 min through a mask film containing microchannels.
4. The wafer is post baked at 95°C for 6 min and is developed using SU-8 photoresist developer.
5. The photoresist patterned wafer containing microchannels is placed in a Petri-dish.
6. Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) (Sylgard 184) molds are fabricated by mixing silicone elastomer and curing agent (10:1 ratio).
7. The PDMS mixture is poured onto the Si master mold and is placed on a vacuum desiccator to remove bubbles.
8. PDMS is cured at 70°C for 1~2 hours.
9. PDMS molds are then peeled off from the Si master mold.

B. Assembling the device

1. 40 µm thick top fluidic channels and 40 µm thick bottom microgrooved channels (25, 50, 75, and 100 μm wide) are obtained from two different Si master molds.
2. Channel inlet and outlet of the fluidic device are punched.
3. Fluidic channels and microgroove channels are irreversibly bonded by the reactive oxygen plasma (5 min at 30W, Harrick Scientific, NY).
4. Extracellular matrix (ECM) (i.e. fibronectin) is coated inside microfluidic device for 1 hour in incubator (37°C).

C. Cell seeding and experimental setup

1. NIH-3T3 mouse fibroblasts are cultured in a tissue culture flask using Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Media (DMEM) containing 10% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS).
2. Cells are trypsinized and dissociated.
3. Dissociated cells are loaded into the microgroove channels at the cell density of 3×10⁶ cells/ml (Figure 1).
   
    
      Figure 1
   
   
4. 2 mL media, 100 mM H₂O₂, and apoptosis assay (20 µL Annexin V and 40 µL propidium iodide, Invitrogen, CA) are infused into a channel using a syringe pump (1 µl/min).
5. Cells are real-time monitored by using an inverted microscope (Nikon TE 2000).

Access restricted. Please log in or start a trial to view this content.

Discussion

Cells were immobilized and patterned within microgrooved substrates in a microfluidic device. The apoptosis process of cells exposed to hydrogen peroxide was observed in real-time and analyzed by using Annexin V and propidium iodide. Thus, this microfluidic device containing microgroove channels could be useful for high-throughput drug screening.

Access restricted. Please log in or start a trial to view this content.

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
PDMS	Reagent	K.R. Anderson Co.	2065622	Poly(dimethylsiloxane), Dow Corning Sylgard 184 (8.6 lb)
DMEM	medium	Invitrogen	11965	Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Media
FBS	serum	Invitrogen	10082-147	Fetal Bovine Serum
Hydrogen peroxide	Reagent	Sigma-Aldrich	H1009
Apoptosis assay		Invitrogen	V13242	Annexin A, propidium iodide
Negative photoresist		MicroChem Corp.	SU-8 2015
Si wafer	Tool			4 inch silicone wafer
Reactive oxygen plasma	Reagent	Harrick Scientific Products, Inc.		treat wafer 5 min at 30W
inverted microscope	Tool	Nikon Instruments	TE 2000