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=Volume 5 - 2017

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 tempo-spatial conditions. However, current microfluidic designs are lacking when needed to handle multiple gradients and cell populations simultaneously. Here we demonstrate a rapidly adapting microfluidic design able to expose different cell lines to an array of chemical gradients. Our design is based on pressure-equilibrated concentric channels and a pressure dissipating control layer, facilitating a capability to seed different 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.