How to Create a Microfluidics Chamber
In a microfluidics chamber, liquid is injected via a high-pressure syringe into a grid. They are then trapped in the tightly channeled walls. Micro channels are also used to perfuse drugs and media. This type of chamber can be used in classical cell culture as well as quick medium changes. To learn more about the microfluidics chamber, read the rest of this article.
To create a microfluidics chamber, you'll need a T-25 flask. A commercial microfluidic chamber is typically designed with two compartments: a somal and an axonal chamber. The chamber is made with 120 150-mm capillaries connected by a somal groove. These capillaries are separated by a thirty-mL volume difference. This is known as phase separation. See: https://xonamicrofluidics.com/xonachips/, for more on the process.
You'll need to change the media at least every three days. Don't be tempted to aspirate all of the media. Instead, leave about 20 percent of the old media. Then, switch to fresh media for the remaining 80 percent. The cells should be differentiated for at least 10 days, and you'll need to exchange the media every couple of days. Regardless of whether you're using a diluted or concentrated solution, remember to change the media at regular intervals.
Adding cellular adhesion to a microfluidics chamber can improve cellular culture by mimicking the environment in which the cells live. In addition, it can help boost cell adhesion and differentiation through the use of natural ECM derived proteins. And it's compatible with several different microscopy techniques. It's easy to print a microfluidics chamber, including phase-imaging.
The GFP-expressing FAD hNPCs were seeded in a 3D microfluidic chamber slide. The cells were then labeled with Hoechst and Tau to label the nucleus. The result was axons containing FAD-labeled hNPCs, and they sprouted from six to 120 capillaries, demonstrating the ability of these cells to differentiate inside the microfluidic chamber.
To study how different embryonic tissues respond to temperature, microfluidics can be used to develop simple perfusion interfaces. Nelson et al. developed a microfluidic chamber with a catheter. This device allowed them to measure transmural pressure simultaneously, which is a crucial factor for airway branching morphogenesis and lung development. It also allows scientists to track the development of the organ through time.
The next step is wet etching, a process that uses liquid chemicals to remove material from a surface. The target surface is immersed in the corrosive solution while patterned masks protect it from the material. A liquid-based etchant is then pipetted through the FC40, which prevents material from spreading throughout the chamber. This step of the microfluidics workflow miniaturizes the workflows in cell biology. See this post to get the facts on the process of microfluidics.
During the incubation phase, the survival rate of the protoplasts is monitored manually by counting their numbers. Then, after 5 days, the survival rate stabilizes around 60%. This is good news for the cell culture industry, as the technology allows for a high-throughput drug screening. One can even use the microfluidics chamber in 3D cell culture. The possibilities are endless. These devices are already in use in laboratories.
Check out this related post: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induced-charge_electrokinetics, to get more enlightened on the topic.