Microfluidic chip for high-throughput perfusion-based three-dimensional cell culture

A microfluidic chip for high throughput miniaturized perfusion-based three-dimensional cell culture, including:

• a roof, which has an array of cell culture units at a bottom surface;
• each cell culture unit including a cell culture medium inlet hole through a top surface of the roof;
• the bottom surface of the roof having
• a culture medium tank;
• at least one micro-bioreactor;
• at least one waste medium collection and analysis tank;
• a microchannel;
• an air channel;
• an air chamber;
• wherein the culture medium tank is connected with the cell culture medium inlet hole and connected with the at least one micro-bioreactor;
• wherein the at least one micro-bioreactor is coupled to the at least one waste medium collection and analysis tank through the microchannel;
• wherein the at least one waste medium collection and analysis tank is coupled to the at least one micro-bioreactor at a first terminal end, and is coupled to the air chamber at a second terminal end opposite of the first terminal end;
• a negative pressure source hole fluidly connected to the air chamber is coupled to a negative pressure source that generates negative pressure, wherein the negative pressure source drives a medium flow in a single direction from the cell culture medium tank, through the microchannels, and to the waste medium collection and analysis tank;
• an intermediate plate having a plurality of connecting holes and a plurality of array holes;
• a bottom plate detachably coupled to the intermediate plate, wherein the bottom plate has a plurality of cylindrical chambers to matingly insert into the plurality of holes;
• a waste medium collector tray module detachably coupled to the intermediate plate, wherein the module has an array of cylindrical slots to matingly insert into the plurality of array holes.