BioMEMS: forging new collaborations between biologists and engineers.
This video describes the fabrication and use of a microfluidic device to culture central nervous system (CNS) neurons. This device is compatible with live-cell optical microscopy (DIC and phase contrast), as well as confocal and two photon microscopy approaches. This method uses precision-molded polymer parts to create miniature multi-compartment cell culture with fluidic isolation. The compartments are made of tiny channels with dimensions that are large enough to culture neurons in well-controlled fluidic microenvironments. Neurons can be cultured for 2-3 weeks within the device, after which they can be fixed and stained for immunocytochemistry. Axonal and somal compartments can be maintained fluidically isolated from each other by using a small hydrostatic pressure difference; this feature can be used to localize soluble insults to one compartment for up to 20 h after each medium change. Fluidic isolation enables collection of pure axonal fraction and biochemical analysis by PCR. The microfluidic device provides a highly adaptable platform for neuroscience research and may find applications in modeling CNS injury and neurodegeneration.
Jeon
Noo Li
NL
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
D000818:Animals; D001695:Biology / Q000639:trends*; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000639:trends*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006801:Humans; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000639:trends*; D009474:Neurons; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000639:trends*