Endothelial Cell Culture Under Perfusion On A Polyester-Toner Microfluidic Device

Abstract

This study presents an inexpensive and easy way to produce a microfluidic device that mimics a blood vessel, serving as a start point for cell culture under perfusion, cardiovascular research, and toxicological studies. Endpoint assays (i.e., MTT reduction and NO assays) were used and revealed that the components making up the microchip, which is made of polyester and toner (PT), did not induce cell death or nitric oxide (NO) production. Applying oxygen plasma and fibronectin improved the adhesion and proliferation endothelial cell along the microchannel. As expected, these treatments showed an increase in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) concentration profiles, which is correlated with adherence and cell proliferation, thus promoting endothelialization of the device for neovascularization. Regardless the simplicity of the device, our “vein-on-a-chip” mimetic has a potential to serve as a powerful tool for those that demand a rapid microfabrication method in cell biology or organ-on-a-chip research.

Transistor in a tube: A route to three-dimensional bioelectronics

“…This offers unprecedented ease in fabrication as well as great versatility for designing platforms based on these 3D materials with macroscopic pores. In our previous work ( 28 ), a fluidic tubing was integrated with a relatively large PEDOT:PSS-based scaffold (using a cuvette as a mold) to promote homogeneous cell accumulation inside the scaffold as well as provide continuous perfusion of nutrients required for cell growth over several days ( 31 , 32 ). We have now inverted and miniaturized this concept and designed a 3D cell monitoring platform based on a tubular T-shaped arrangement with the source, drain, and gate electrodes embedded inside the fluidics.…”

Rapid Fabrication of Microfluidic Devices for Biological Mimicking: A Survey of Materials and Biocompatibility

“…Previous reports have developed microfluidic devices based on the conventional laboratory tools, including print, cut and laminate (PCL) and laser-cutting thin double-sided tape technique that immensely simplified the fabrication process. These on-the-bench tools produced microchannels with sufficient resolution and prompt use in analytical chemistry and biological studies [ 19 , 20 , 21 ]. In this respect, we aimed to develop microchannel-microchips with efficiency in the simulation of shear stress effect on human endothelial cells by monitoring cell status, viability and attachment area.…”

Molecular Diagnostics of Dengue by Reverse Transcription-Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification (RT-LAMP) in Disposable Polyester-Toner Microdevices

“…[37][38][39] Polyester-toner (PeT) microchips have been widely used in recent years for applications with biological samples, thus demonstrating compatibility for clinical diagnostic applications. [40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50] Both polyester and toner are inexpensive materials and the microfabrication process of the device is simple, fast, and low-cost, in addition to being disposable. 41 In this paper, we describe a simple and rapid method for molecular diagnostics of dengue fever by RT-LAMP in a PeT microchip.…”