Layered microfluidic living cell array

A layered, microfluidic living cell array, comprising:

• a first layer comprising at least one cell culture channel extending in a longitudinal direction and a plurality of cell culture chambers that are fluidly connected by the cell culture channel;
• a second layer comprising at least one microfluidic channel extending orthogonal to the longitudinal direction;
• a third layer, disposed between the first layer and the second layer, the third layer comprising a filter membrane with a plurality of pores, each pore fluidly connecting the microfluidic channel of the second layer to the cell culture channel of the first layer wherein the pores are grouped into nests of pores, each nest vertically stacked above a corresponding cell culture chamber in the plurality of cell culture chambers;
• wherein the first layer has a first thickness, the second layer has a second thickness, and the third layer has a third thickness, the first thickness being greater than the third thickness but is less than the second thickness;
• a fluid inlet connected to a first end of the microfluidic channel;
• a fluid outlet connected to a second end of the microfluidic channel.

A method of growing cells in a microfluidic living cell array, the method comprising the steps of:

• introducing at least one cell into a cell culture chamber of a cell array, the cell array comprising:
• a first layer comprising at least one cell culture channel extending in a longitudinal direction and a plurality of cell culture chambers that are fluidly connected by the cell culture channel;
• a second layer comprising at least one microfluidic channel;
• a third layer, disposed between the first layer and the second layer, the third layer comprising a filter membrane with a plurality of pores, each pore fluidly connecting the microfluidic channel of the second layer to the cell culture channel of the first layer wherein the pores are grouped into nests of pores, each nest vertically stacked above a corresponding cell culture chamber in the plurality of cell culture chambers;
• wherein the first layer has a first thickness, the second layer has a second thickness, and the third layer has a third thickness, the first thickness being greater than the third thickness but is less than the second thickness;
• a fluid inlet connected to a first end of the microfluidic channel;
• a fluid outlet connected to a second end of the microfluidic channel, the second end being opposite the first end;
• introducing fluid comprising a drug into the fluid inlet at a predetermined flow rate;
• permitting the fluid to pass through the microfluidic channel, wherein a portion of the fluid passes through the pores and contacts the cell culture channel;
• and
• permitting the fluid to pass through the fluid outlet.