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A Microfluidic Device with Groove Patterns for Studying Cellular Behavior
Published on: August 30, 2007
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A flexible microfluidic strategy to generate grooved microfibers for guiding cell alignment
Mengqian Zhao1, Haitao Liu1, Xu Zhang2
1CAS Key Laboratory of SSAC, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, P.R. China. jhqin@dicp.ac.cn and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P.R. China.
Biomaterials Science
|June 21, 2021
Summary
This study introduces a microfluidic system for creating grooved hydrogel microfibers. These anisotropic scaffolds promote muscle cell alignment, showing promise for tissue engineering applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Hydrogel microfibers are valuable in tissue engineering for their adaptable structure and biocompatibility.
- Grooved microfibers specifically aid cell alignment, mimicking natural muscle tissue structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a flexible microfluidic system for fabricating tunable grooved hydrogel microfibers.
- To create heterogeneous, grooved microfibers using interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) for advanced tissue scaffolding.
Main Methods:
- A microfluidic spinning system utilizing ionic crosslinking of sodium alginate (NaA) with varying concentrations to form grooved fibers.
- Controlling fiber dimensions via NaA viscosity, concentration, and flow rates of NaA and calcium chloride (CaCl2).
- Co-spinning gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) and NaA to create heterogeneous IPN microfibers.
Main Results:
- Successfully fabricated well-defined grooved microfibers with controllable size and shape.
- Generated heterogeneous grooved microfibers composed of interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs).
- Demonstrated successful 3D culture of C2C12 muscle cells on anisotropic scaffolds, showing good viability and ordered alignment.
Conclusions:
- The proposed microfluidic approach offers a flexible and controllable method for producing grooved hydrogel microfibers.
- Heterogeneous grooved microfibers serve as effective anisotropic scaffolds, promoting cell alignment and viability.
- This technology holds potential for replicating in vivo aligned microstructures like nerve and blood vessel bundles.
