title: Maximizing Fibroblast Adhesion on Protein-Coated Surfaces Using Microfluidic Cell Printing.
abstract: translation ofin vitrocell based assays toin vivocellular response is imprecise at best. The advent of three-dimensional cell cultures in addition to bioreactor type microfluidics has improved the situation. However, these technical advances cannot be easily combined due to practical limitations. Development of a vertical microfluidic cell printer overcomes this obstacle, providing the ability to more closely recapitulate complex cellular environments and responses. As a proof of concept, we investigated the adhesion of fibroblasts under flow on protein-coated surfaces using a novel vertical microfluidic print head to isolate and manipulate both mechanical and biological factors as a model of fibroblast behavior during the foreign body response following implant insertion. A low flow rate with larger microfluidic channels onto a serum-coated surface has been determined to allow the highest density of viable fibroblasts to attach to the surface. While these insights into fibroblast surface attachment may lead to better material designs, the methods developed herein will certainly be useful as a biomaterials testing platform.
authors.affiliation: Wasatch Microfluidics, Salt Lake City, UT 84103.
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Davidoff
authors.affiliation: Wasatch Microfluidics, Salt Lake City, UT 84103.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Au
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake, UT 84112.
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Gale
authors.affiliation: Wasatch Microfluidics, Salt Lake City, UT 84103.
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Brooks