Integrated microfluidic platform for cell culture and characterization

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In this interdisciplinary research program, a novel microfluidic system will be developed to culture, characterize, image, and screen cells within a single automated, portable platform, with large potential impact to improve health care. As a new paradigm for cell-based testing, this microscale platform promises to provide a simple, scalable tool to apply standardized protocols used in cellular response assays. One factor essential to obtaining meaningful data in either high-throughput drug screening during drug discovery, or in patient-specific screening, is to have a cell culture environment which recapitulates the in vivo environment. In contrast to the two-dimensional monolayer-based method of cell culture commonly used in molecular and cell biology, this approach will feature three-dimensional (3-D) cell culture, in which cells are embedded in a material that mimics the extracellular matrix. This research will combine this hydrogel-based method of culturing cells with on-chip microfluidic flow control for precise fluid handling. By integrating pumps and valves, along with arrays of nanoliter culture chambers, this work will enable several avenues of research: