title: A transparent cell-culture microchamber with a variably controlled concentration gradient generator and flow field rectifier.
abstract: Real-time observation of cell growth provides essential information for studies such as cell migration and chemotaxis. A conventional cell incubation device is usually too clumsy for these applications. Here we report a transparent microfluidic device that has an integrated heater and a concentration gradient generator. A piece of indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass was ablated by our newly developed visible laser-induced backside wet etching (LIBWE) so that transparent heater strips were prepared on the glass substrate. A polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) microfluidic chamber with flow field rectifiers and a reagent effusion hole was fabricated by a CO(2) laser and then assembled with the ITO heater so that the chamber temperature can be controlled for cell culturing. A variable chemical gradient was generated inside the chamber by combining the lateral medium flow and the flow from the effusion hole. Successful culturing was performed inside the device. Continuous long-term (>10 days) observation on cell growth was achieved. In this work the flow field, medium replacement, and chemical gradient in the microchamber are elaborated.
authors.forename: Ji-Yen
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Meng-Hua
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Ching-Te
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Tai-Horng
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Young
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