A Novel Single-Layer Microfluidic Device for Dynamic Stimulation, Culture, and Imaging of Mammalian Cells

The possibility of tightly controlling the cellular microenvironment within microfluidic devices represents an important step toward precision analysis of cellular phenotypes in vitro. Microfluidic platforms that allow both long-term mammalian cell culture and dynamic modulation of the culture envir...

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Main Authors: Adil Mustafa, Antonella La Regina, Elisa Pedone, Ahmet Erten, Lucia Marucci
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Biosensors
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/7/427
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author Adil Mustafa
Antonella La Regina
Elisa Pedone
Ahmet Erten
Lucia Marucci
author_facet Adil Mustafa
Antonella La Regina
Elisa Pedone
Ahmet Erten
Lucia Marucci
author_sort Adil Mustafa
collection DOAJ
description The possibility of tightly controlling the cellular microenvironment within microfluidic devices represents an important step toward precision analysis of cellular phenotypes in vitro. Microfluidic platforms that allow both long-term mammalian cell culture and dynamic modulation of the culture environment can support quantitative studies of cells’ responses to drugs. Here, we report the design and testing of a novel microfluidic device of simple production (single Polydimethylsiloxane layer), which integrates a micromixer with vacuum-assisted cell loading for long-term mammalian cell culture and dynamic mixing of four different culture media. Finite element modeling was used to predict flow rates and device dimensions to achieve diffusion-based fluid mixing. The device showed efficient mixing and dynamic exchange of media in the cell-trapping chambers, and viability of mammalian cells cultured for long-term in the device. This work represents the first attempt to integrate single-layer microfluidic mixing devices with vacuum-assisted cell-loading systems for mammalian cell culture and dynamic stimulation.
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issn 2079-6374
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series Biosensors
spelling doaj-art-1b042eacf05c431f809c59bb340e91b12025-08-20T02:45:33ZengMDPI AGBiosensors2079-63742025-07-0115742710.3390/bios15070427A Novel Single-Layer Microfluidic Device for Dynamic Stimulation, Culture, and Imaging of Mammalian CellsAdil Mustafa0Antonella La Regina1Elisa Pedone2Ahmet Erten3Lucia Marucci4School of Engineering Mathematics and Technology, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TW, UKSchool of Engineering Mathematics and Technology, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TW, UKSchool of Engineering Mathematics and Technology, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TW, UKDepartment of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul 34469, TurkeySchool of Engineering Mathematics and Technology, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TW, UKThe possibility of tightly controlling the cellular microenvironment within microfluidic devices represents an important step toward precision analysis of cellular phenotypes in vitro. Microfluidic platforms that allow both long-term mammalian cell culture and dynamic modulation of the culture environment can support quantitative studies of cells’ responses to drugs. Here, we report the design and testing of a novel microfluidic device of simple production (single Polydimethylsiloxane layer), which integrates a micromixer with vacuum-assisted cell loading for long-term mammalian cell culture and dynamic mixing of four different culture media. Finite element modeling was used to predict flow rates and device dimensions to achieve diffusion-based fluid mixing. The device showed efficient mixing and dynamic exchange of media in the cell-trapping chambers, and viability of mammalian cells cultured for long-term in the device. This work represents the first attempt to integrate single-layer microfluidic mixing devices with vacuum-assisted cell-loading systems for mammalian cell culture and dynamic stimulation.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/7/427microfluidicsmicromixersmammalian cellssingle layerPDMS
spellingShingle Adil Mustafa
Antonella La Regina
Elisa Pedone
Ahmet Erten
Lucia Marucci
A Novel Single-Layer Microfluidic Device for Dynamic Stimulation, Culture, and Imaging of Mammalian Cells
Biosensors
microfluidics
micromixers
mammalian cells
single layer
PDMS
title A Novel Single-Layer Microfluidic Device for Dynamic Stimulation, Culture, and Imaging of Mammalian Cells
title_full A Novel Single-Layer Microfluidic Device for Dynamic Stimulation, Culture, and Imaging of Mammalian Cells
title_fullStr A Novel Single-Layer Microfluidic Device for Dynamic Stimulation, Culture, and Imaging of Mammalian Cells
title_full_unstemmed A Novel Single-Layer Microfluidic Device for Dynamic Stimulation, Culture, and Imaging of Mammalian Cells
title_short A Novel Single-Layer Microfluidic Device for Dynamic Stimulation, Culture, and Imaging of Mammalian Cells
title_sort novel single layer microfluidic device for dynamic stimulation culture and imaging of mammalian cells
topic microfluidics
micromixers
mammalian cells
single layer
PDMS
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/7/427
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