Microvalve and liquid membrane double-controlled integrated microfluidics for observing the interaction of breast cancer cells

Abstract

The methodical development of cell biology has resulted in significant advancements in the study of breast tumors. However, the dynamic investigation of the self-seeding process remains largely out of reach. In the present study, we describe a microvalve and liquid membrane double-controlled integrated microfluidic device that provides for the versatile assessment of breast tumor cell invasion dynamics. The liquid membrane formation was first optimized to obtain a high level of control, and was then applied to different types of homotypic and heterotypic cell seeding with precise selective positioning for monoculture and coculture. Using this device, the interaction between breast cancer cells MDA231-LM2 and MDA-MB231 was successfully observed to investigate self-seeding dynamics, including migration, infiltration, and coexistence. The results quantitatively demonstrate the mutual signal-induced attraction between MDA-MB231 and MDA231-LM2 cells, as well as the progressive infiltration of MDA231-LM2 cells into the MDA-MB231 cell population. These results are valuable in the development of spatiotemporal-controlled microfluidic systems and to many microscale-based biological and diagnostic studies involving cell growth, cell differentiation, cell interaction, and cell signal.

Micro Total Analysis Systems: Fundamental Advances and Biological Applications

“…This device attempted to mimic an in vivo cellular environment and encourage vascular anastomosis. Another device made use of microvalves and liquid membranes to examine tumor cell invasion and metastasis at the microscale level . The migration, infiltration, and coexistence dynamics of different types of breast cancer cells were temporally followed and quantitated.…”

“…Another device made use of microvalves and liquid membranes to examine tumor cell invasion and metastasis at the microscale level. 208 The migration, infiltration, and coexistence dynamics of different types of breast cancer cells were temporally followed and quantitated. On a third device, channels were patterned to guide the development of neural arrays.…”

Development of a Microfluidic Device to Form a Long Chemical Gradient in a Tissue from Both Ends with an Analysis of Its Appearance and Content

“…[9][10][11]. Interactions between diverse cells and stroma in tumors has been found to regulate cancer growth and metastasis [12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. Thus, insights into their interactions have been obtained through the use of tissue assays.…”