3D-Printed Bubble-Free Perfusion Cartridge System for Live-Cell Imaging

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cell Biology
• Microfluidics

Background:

• Perfusion chambers are crucial for live-cell imaging but suffer from air-bubble invasion.
• 3D printing enables rapid fabrication of microfluidic devices, yet bubble-trapping systems are underdeveloped.
• Existing perfusion systems often require complex bubble removal methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a 3D-printed millifluidic cartridge system for bubble-free perfusion.
• To design flow channels that prevent air-bubble invasion regardless of bubble size.
• To create a user-friendly and efficiently manufactured perfusion system for cell-based assays.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a millifluidic cartridge using 3D printing with bent and flat tapered flow channels.
• Continuous introduction of air bubbles of varying volumes during calcium imaging experiments.
• Conducting protein staining experiments to assess chemical reaction capabilities.

Main Results:

• The 3D-printed cartridge effectively prevented air-bubble invasion in perfusion systems.
• Bubble-free perfusion was achieved during calcium imaging of Sf21 cells.
• The system demonstrated versatility for wide-area observation and chemical reaction applications.

Conclusions:

• The developed 3D-printed millifluidic cartridge offers a robust solution for bubble-free perfusion in cell-based bioassays.
• This technology simplifies perfusion setups, enhancing reliability for research and potential integration into biosensors.
• The user-friendly design and efficient manufacturing process make it suitable for broad bioanalytical applications.