3D-templated, fully automated microfluidic input/output multiplexer for endocrine tissue culture and secretion...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Endocrinology
• Microfluidics

Background:

• Understanding endocrine tissue function requires precise control over nutrient and hormone dynamics.
• Existing microfluidic systems often lack flexibility for real-time, multi-channel analysis of primary cells.
• Time-resolved interrogation of cellular responses is crucial for studying dynamic biological processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a fully automated, 16-channel microfluidic input/output multiplexer (μMUX) for interfacing with primary cells.
• To enhance the understanding of endocrine tissue function dynamics through precise manipulation of cellular microenvironments.
• To provide a flexible platform for time-resolved interrogation of cell behavior and responses.

Main Methods:

• Development of a 16-channel μMUX utilizing pressure-driven push-up valves for precise fluid control.
• Custom 3D-printed interface templates to create reservoirs and confinement chambers for primary murine islets and adipose tissue explants.
• Programming the automated system for dynamic studies, including insulin secretion profiling and real-time cell imaging.

Main Results:

• Successfully collected ~90-minute insulin secretion profiles from pancreatic islets.
• Demonstrated real-time imaging of fatty acid uptake dynamics in adipose tissue explants over ~2.5 hours.
• Showcased the system's flexibility across different stimulation and sampling modes with multiple murine tissue types.

Conclusions:

• The novel 3D-templated μMUX device offers high experimental flexibility for studying endocrine tissue function.
• The system enables precise, time-resolved interrogation of cellular dynamics in primary tissues.
• Components are adaptable for other microfluidic systems, including organ-on-a-chip devices, and translatable to various tissues.