Pumping of mammalian cells with a nozzle-diffuser micropump

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cell Biology
• Microfluidics

Background:

• Microfluidic devices are crucial for cell-based assays.
• Efficient and non-damaging cell handling is essential for microfluidic applications.
• Assessing the impact of micro-pumping on cell health is critical.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the performance of a reciprocating micropump with nozzle-diffuser elements for cell transport.
• To quantify the effects of micropumping on jurkat and 5D10 hybridoma cell viability, proliferation, and membrane integrity.
• To determine the suitability of this micropump for cell-on-a-chip applications.

Main Methods:

• Cell transport using a reciprocating micropump with nozzle-diffuser elements.
• Quantification of cell viability using trypan blue exclusion.
• Assessment of metabolic activity with WST-1 reagent.
• Measurement of membrane damage via LDH cytotoxicity assay.
• ATP level determination using calcium imaging.

Main Results:

• High cell viability was maintained for both jurkat and 5D10 hybridoma cells after micropumping.
• No significant detrimental effects on cell proliferation or membrane integrity were observed.
• The micropump demonstrated effective handling of sensitive cell types.

Conclusions:

• Micropumps with nozzle-diffuser elements are well-suited for transporting living cells.
• The tested micropump design ensures minimal cellular damage, preserving cell function.
• This technology shows promise for advanced cell-on-a-chip systems requiring precise cell manipulation.