Microfabricated cellular traps based on three-dimensional micro-scale flow geometries
OwnerHur Koserinventor
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Abstract
An improved microfluidic device and method of using the microfluidic device to measure natural motile response of a living moiety to a chemotactic agent. The invention comprises integrating microfluidic containment trenches within the microfluidic devices for cellular trapping, manipulation and real-time analysis of biological phenomena, including chemotaxis. The invention captures the design methodology for these traps, as well as the fabrication means and the associated external control mechanism that allows rapid, reversible and fully controlled changes in the chemical environment to which trapped cells are exposed.
Claims38
A microfluidic device for measuring natural motile response of a living moiety to a chemotactic agent, comprising:
- a) a flow channel for transporting the chemotactic agent through the microfluidic device;
- b) at least one microfluidic trench arranged beneath and substantially perpendicular to the flow channel, wherein the living moiety is introducible into the at least one microfluidic trench;
- and
- c) means for measuring the response of the living moiety to the chemotactic agent;
- wherein the chemotactic agent is introducible into the at least one microfluidic trench to expose the living moiety to the chemotactic agent, and wherein the flow of the chemotactic agent over the at least one microfluidic trench creates a hydrodynamic stagnation of flow within the at least one microfluidic trench.
A method of using a microfluidic device to measure natural motile response of a living moiety to a chemotactic agent, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) transporting the chemotactic agent through the microfluidic device in a flow channel;
- b) introducing at least one living moiety into at least one microfluidic trench arranged beneath and substantially perpendicular to the flow channel;
- and
- c) measuring the response of the at least one living moiety to the chemotactic agent;
- wherein the chemotactic agent is introduced into the at least one microfluidic trench to expose the at least one living moiety to the chemotactic agent, and wherein the flow of the chemotactic agent over the at least one microfluidic trench creates a hydrodynamic stagnation of flow within the at least one microfluidic channel.
A method of fabricating a microfluidic device comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a glass slide;
- b) fabricating a layer comprising at least one microfluidic trench on the glass slide, wherein an opening of the at least one microfluidic trench is opposite the surface of the glass slide;
- c) providing a roof structure layer on the layer comprising the at least one microfluidic trench, wherein said roof structure comprises a plurality of openings;
- and
- d) providing a top layer comprising a flow channel, wherein said flow channel is open to the roof structure;
- wherein a fluid introduced into the flow channel is introducible into the at least one microfluidic trench through the roof structure layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.