Microheart: A microfluidic pump for functional vascular culture in microphysiological systems

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Microfluidics
• Cell Culture Technology

Background:

• Microphysiological systems require physiological flow conditions for long-term cell culture.
• Conventional pumps struggle with the low, non-pulsatile flow rates needed for these systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize a microfluidic pump for controlled media delivery in vascular microphysiological applications.
• To enable long-term cell culture under physiologically relevant flow conditions.

Main Methods:

• A microfluidic pump was designed and fabricated.
• Pump performance was evaluated in various microfluidic configurations, including channels and microvascular networks.
• A theoretical framework using lumped element analysis and finite element modeling of check-valves was developed.

Main Results:

• The microfluidic pump successfully delivered media at controlled, low flow rates.
• Performance was predictable using the developed theoretical framework.
• The system effectively recapitulated vascular fluid transport phenomena.

Conclusions:

• The developed microfluidic pump is suitable for long-term cell culture in microphysiological systems.
• This technology advances vascular research, disease modeling, and drug screening applications.
• It provides a solution for achieving physiological fluid transport in microfluidic devices.