Issue 9, 2011

Engineering of a microfluidic cell culture platform embedded with nanoscale features

Abstract

Cells residing in a microenvironment interact with the extracellular matrix (ECM) and neighboring cells. The ECM built from biomacromolecules often includes nanotopography. Through the ECM, interstitial flows facilitate transport of nutrients and play an important role in tissue maintenance and pathobiology. To create a microenvironment that can incorporate both nanotopography and flow for studies of cell–matrix interactions, we fabricated microfluidic channels endowed with nanopatterns suitable for dynamic culture. Using polymer thin film technology, we developed a versatile stitching technique to generate a large area of nanopatterned surface and a simple microtransfer assembly technique to assemble polydimethylsiloxane-based microfluidics. The cellular study showed that both nanotopography and fluid shear stress played a significant role in adhesion, spreading, and migration of human mesenchymal stem cells. The orientation and deformation of cytoskeleton and nuclei were regulated through the interplay of these two cues. The nanostructured microfluidic platform provides a useful tool to promote the fundamental understanding of cell–matrix interactions and may be used to regulate the fate of stem cells.

Graphical abstract: Engineering of a microfluidic cell culture platform embedded with nanoscale features

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
31 Dec 2010
Accepted
03 Mar 2011
First published
25 Mar 2011

Lab Chip, 2011,11, 1638-1646

Engineering of a microfluidic cell culture platform embedded with nanoscale features

Y. Yang, K. Kulangara, J. Sia, L. Wang and K. W. Leong, Lab Chip, 2011, 11, 1638 DOI: 10.1039/C0LC00736F

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