title: Engineering controllable architecture in matrigel for 3D cell alignment.
abstract: We report a microfluidic approach to impart alignment in ECM components in 3D hydrogels by continuously applying fluid flow across the bulk gel during the gelation process. The microfluidic device where each channel can be independently filled was tilted at 90° to generate continuous flow across the Matrigel as it gelled. The presence of flow helped that more than 70% of ECM components were oriented along the direction of flow, compared with randomly cross-linked Matrigel. Following the oriented ECM components, primary rat cortical neurons and mouse neural stem cells showed oriented outgrowth of neuronal processes within the 3D Matrigel matrix.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience and ‡School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University , Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Myung
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Si-Hoai-Trung
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: Sang Cheol
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Na
authors.forename: Noo Li
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Jeon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D007797:Laminin / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D007797:Laminin; D011509:Proteoglycans; C059485:matrigel; D003094:Collagen
keywords: 3D cell culture; ECM; aligned hydrogel; microfluidics; shear flow