Journal: Lab on a chip
Article Title: Microfluidic platform for 3D cell culture with live imaging and clone retrieval.
doi: 10.1039/d0lc00165a
Figure Lengend Snippet: Fig. 3 Microfluidic platform for independent capture and release of aggregates. A. Schematic of the channel (bottom) layer of the microfluidic platform showing individual components and modules. (i) Shows individual bead traps, (ii) shows a magnified view of a secondary culture module. Insert shows cross-section of different channel regions. Thicker segments can be closed by valves. B. Schematic of the overlay of the valve and channel layer in the final design. C. Brightfield image of a cell, encapsulated in an agarose/fibrin/laminin bead, on the bead trap. D. Valve actuation and media flow for culture and live imaging. Media flow keeps all beads in position in the traps. E. By actuating a combination of valves (example shows extraction of bead in trap 8), the media flow along a single channel can be reversed, those allowing for the extraction of a bead of interest. Media flow is blocked along all other channels, so that all remaining beads remain in the traps. F. Snapshots of live imaging showing valve actuation (1), and re-direction of media by valve actuation as shown in (E) to removal of a single bead (false colour in green – steps 2–4). While a neighbouring bead (false colour blue) remains in position (4).
Article Snippet: Valve actuation is achieved through a pressure increase in the valve layer, which is controlled by a MUX microfluidic flow switch matrix (Elveflow), which can apply constant pressure over any combination of valves.
Techniques: Imaging, Extraction