System and method for a biomimetic fluid processing

A method for generating a biological substance comprising:

• providing a biomimetic microfluidic system comprising:
• a substrate;
• a first channel formed in the substrate, the first channel extending from a first input to a first output along a longitudinal dimension and extending along a first transverse dimension;
• a second channel formed in the substrate, the second channel extending from a second input to a second output along the longitudinal dimension and extending along a second transverse dimension, wherein at least a portion of the first and second channels are substantially parallel;
• a series of columns between the first channel and the second channel that are longitudinally separated by a predetermined distance;
• a series of microchannels coupling the first channel to the second channel using a fluid communication path passing between the series of columns;
• a first source connected to the first input;
• a second source connected to the second input;
• introducing a first biological composition into the first channel at a first channel flow rate using the first source, the at least one first biological composition including a biological source material capable of producing a target biological substance;
• introducing a second biological composition into the second channel at a second channel flow rate using the second source;
• controlling the first and second channel flow rates to selectively capture the biological source material about the series of microchannels and create a differential between the channels to generate physiological shears rates along the second channel that induce the biological source material captured to produce the target biological substance
• retrieving the target biological substance produced, using the second biological composition, for harvesting.

A method for generating blood platelets comprising:

• providing a biomimetic microfluidic system comprising:
• a substrate;
• a first channel formed in the substrate, the first channel extending from a first input to a first output along a longitudinal dimension, and extending along a first transverse dimension;
• a second channel formed in the substrate, the second channel extending from a second input to a second output along the longitudinal dimension, and extending along a second transverse dimension, wherein the first and second channels extend substantially parallel;
• a series of columns between the first channel and the second channel, and a series of microchannels extending from the first channel to the second channel to create a fluid communication path passing between the columns and longitudinally separating the columns by a predetermined separation distance;
• a first source connected to the first input;
• a second source connected to the second input;
• introducing a first biological composition into the first channel at a first channel flow rate using the first source, the at least one first biological composition including megakaryocytes (MKs) capable of generating blood platelets (PLTs);
• introducing a second biological composition into the second channel at a second channel flow rate using the second source;
• controlling the flow rates to:
• selectively capture, in the first channel, by the series of microchannels and the series of columns, one or more of the MKs;
• permit pro-PLTs formed from the one or more MKs to extend through the microchannels into the second channel;
• create a differential between the channels to generate physiological shear rates along the second channel that induce production of the PLTs from the pro-PLTs;
• retrieving the PLTs produced using the second biological composition.