Device for assessing mechanical strain induced in or by cells
AssigneeMimetas B.V.
InventorsPaul VULTO, Sebastiaan Johanes TRIETSCH, Todd Peter BURTON
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Abstract
A microfluidic device comprising a microfluidic network is described. The device comprises a base, a microfluidic channel and a cover, and the base comprises a diaphragm forming at least part of an inner surface of the microfluidic channel. The device finds use in methods for assessing mechanical strain induced in or by cells, such methods also being described.
Claims26
A microfluidic device, comprising:
- a microfluidic network, the microfluidic network comprising:
- a base, a microfluidic channel, and a cover;
- wherein the base comprises a non-porous diaphragm forming at least part of an inner surface of the microfluidic channel and wherein the microfluidic channel comprises a sub-volume defined at least in part by the diaphragm and by a capillary pressure barrier in the microfluidic channel.
The microfluidic device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base comprises an aperture to the microfluidic channel across which the diaphragm extends.
The microfluidic device according to any one of the preceding claims where the diaphragm is transparent or optically clear and preferably has a thickness of less than 1 mm, more preferably less than 250 μm, more preferably less than 100 μm.
The microfluidic device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the diaphragm is a functionalised diaphragm comprising one or more electrodes, sensors, probes, reference markers for monitoring diaphragm movement, ferromagnetic particles, adhesion molecules, or antibodies.
The microfluidic device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sub-volume is a first sub-volume and wherein the microfluidic channel further comprises:
- a second sub-volume comprising a flow channel;
- and
- a third sub-volume that is separated from the second sub-volume by the first sub-volume.
A microfluidic device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base is configured to operatively connect the diaphragm to one or more of:
- a source of positive or negative (air-)pressure;
- a physical actuator;
- an electromagnetic actuator;
- and
- an expandable foam.
The microfluidic device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the capillary pressure barrier comprises:
- a ridge of material protruding from an internal surface of the microfluidic channel;
- a widening of the microfluidic channel;
- a groove in an internal surface of the microfluidic channel;
- a region of material of different wettability to an internal surface of the microfluidic channel;
- or
- a plurality of pillars at regular intervals.
The microfluidic device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the microfluidic network contains biological or biomimetic material including one or more of:
- a. gel, extracellular matrix or scaffold provided for example in the first sub-volume;
- b. epithelial or endothelial cells lining the microfluidic channel, for example forming a tube or blood vessel in the second sub-volume;
- c. epithelial or endothelial cells situated inside a gel, extracellular matrix or scaffold, preferably forming lumened structures, more preferably forming a vascular bed;
- d. stromal cells in or on a gel, extracellular matrix or scaffold;
- e. muscle cells in or on a gel, extracellular matrix or scaffold;
- f. one or more other cell types selected from pluripotent cells and central nervous, peripheral nervous, lymphoreticular, immune, urinary, respiratory, reproductive (male and female), gastrointestinal, endocrine, skin, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and mammary cell types.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.