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Updated: Sep 1, 2025
Microfabrication of Chip-sized Scaffolds for Three-dimensional Cell cultivation
Published on: May 12, 2008
Engineering a dynamic three-dimensional cell culturing microenvironment using a 'sandwich' structure-liked
Laiqian Ding1, Chong Liu1,2, Shuqing Yin1
1Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
Most ofin vivotissue cells reside in 3D extracellular matrix (ECM) with fluid flow. To better study cell physiology and pathophysiology, there has been an increasing need in the development of methods for culturing cells inin vivolike microenvironments with a number of strategies currently being investigated including hydrogels, spheroids, tissue scaffolds and very promising microfluidic systems. In this paper, a 'sandwich' structure-liked microfluidic device integrated with a 3D printing scaffold is proposed for three-dimensional and dynamic cell culture. The device consists of three layers, i.e. upper layer, scaffold layer and bottom layer. The upper layer is used for introducing cells and fixing scaffold, the scaffold layer mimicking ECM is used for providing 3D attachment areas, and the bottom layer mimicking blood vessels is used for supplying dynamic medium for cells. Thermally assisted electrohydrodynamic jet (TAEJ) printing technology and microfabrication technology are combined to fabricate the device. The flow field in the chamber of device is evaluated by numerical simulation and particle tracking technology to investigate the effects of scaffold on fluid microenvironment. The cell culturing processes are presented by the flow behaviors of inks with different colors. The densities and viabilities of HeLa cells are evaluated and compared after 72 h of culturing in the microfluidic devices and 48-well plate. The dose-dependent cell responses to doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) are observed after 24 h treatment at different concentrations. These experimental results, including the evaluation of cell proliferation andin vitrocytotoxicity assessment of DOX in the devices and plate, demonstrate that the presented microfluidic device has good biocompatibility and feasibility, which have great potential in providing native microenvironments forin vitrocell studies, tissue engineering and drug screening for tumor therapy.
