AUTHOR=Ezra Tsur Elishai , Zimerman Michal , Maor Idan , Elrich Avner , Nahmias Yaakov TITLE=Microfluidic Concentric Gradient Generator Design for High-Throughput Cell-Based Studies JOURNAL=Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology VOLUME=5 YEAR=2017 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biotechnology/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2017.00021 DOI=10.3389/fbioe.2017.00021 ISSN=2296-4185 ABSTRACT=

Gradients of diffusible signaling molecules play important role in various processes, ranging from cell differentiation to toxicological evaluation. Microfluidic technology provides an accurate control of tempospatial conditions. However, current microfluidic platforms are not designed to handle multiple gradients and cell populations simultaneously. Here, we demonstrate a rapidly adaptable microfluidic design able to expose multiple cell populations to an array of chemical gradients. Our design is based on pressure-equilibrated concentric channels and a pressure-dissipating control layer, facilitating the seeding of multiple cell populations in a single device. The design was numerically evaluated and experimentally validated. The device consists of 8 radiating stimuli channels and 12 circular cell culture channels, creating an array of 96 different continuous gradients that can be simultaneously monitored over time.