A multi-purpose microfluidic perfusion system with combinatorial choice of inputs, mixtures, gradient patterns, and flow rates.

摘要: Microfluidic perfusion systems, characterized by deterministic flow, low reagent consumption, small dead volumes, large integration in footprints, high-throughput operation, and low-cost fabrication, are being increasingly used for cell culture studies applications such as basic biology, molecular biological assays, tissue engineering, systems biology. We report a multipurpose, pressure-driven computer-controlled microfluidic device containing sixteen inlets chamber. The user can choose, with sub-second temporal resolution, (a) to feed the chamber one of 16 inlets, all or 64 combinations 2, 4, 8 using binary multiplexer; (b) introduce into heterogeneous laminar flow smoothened gradient, fully homogenized mixture; (c) bypass order purge inlet lines so minimize volume; (d) generate asymmetrical curvilinear patterns within opening side outlets; (e) slow down combinatorially adding segments high fluid resistance (sixteen different levels rates possible only four valves). All functionalities combined create complex gradient sequential perfusions central