title: BioMEMS: forging new collaborations between biologists and engineers.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Noo Li
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Jeon
mesh_terms: 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*