title: Versatile, simple-to-use microfluidic cell-culturing chip for long-term, high-resolution, time-lapse imaging.
abstract: Optical long-term observation of individual cells, combined with modern data analysis tools, allows for a detailed study of cell-to-cell variability, heredity, and differentiation. We developed a microfluidic device featuring facile cell loading, simple and robust operation, and which is amenable to high-resolution life-cell imaging. Different cell strains can be grown in parallel in the device under constant or changing media perfusion without cross-talk between the cell ensembles. The culturing chamber has been optimized for use with nonadherent cells, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and enables controlled colony growth over multiple generations under aerobic or anaerobic conditions. Small changes in the layout will make the device also useable with bacteria or mammalian cells. The platform can be readily set up in every laboratory with minimal additional requirements and can be operated without technology training.
authors.affiliation: ETH Zürich, †Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Bio Engineering Laboratory, and ‡Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Computational Systems Biology Group, Mattenstrasse 26, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.affiliation: ETH Zürich, †Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Bio Engineering Laboratory, and ‡Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Computational Systems Biology Group, Mattenstrasse 26, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rudolf
authors.affiliation: ETH Zürich, †Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Bio Engineering Laboratory, and ‡Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Computational Systems Biology Group, Mattenstrasse 26, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Gregor W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: ETH Zürich, †Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Bio Engineering Laboratory, and ‡Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Computational Systems Biology Group, Mattenstrasse 26, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hierlemann
mesh_terms: D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques; D016958:Pseudomonas putida / Q000166:cytology; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000166:cytology; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces / Q000166:cytology; D013997:Time Factors
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