Display Settings:

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination
We are sorry, but NCBI web applications do not support your browser and may not function properly. More information
    J Vis Exp. 2007;(7):271. doi: 10.3791/271. Epub 2007 Aug 30.

    A gradient-generating microfluidic device for cell biology.

    Source

    Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Center for Biomedical Engineering, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.

    Abstract

    The fabrication and operation of a gradient-generating microfluidic device for studying cellular behavior is described. A microfluidic platform is an enabling experimental tool, because it can precisely manipulate fluid flows, enable high-throughput experiments, and generate stable soluble concentration gradients. Compared to conventional gradient generators, poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)-based microfluidic devices can generate stable concentration gradients of growth factors with well-defined profiles. Here, we developed simple gradient-generating microfluidic devices with three separate inlets. Three microchannels combined into one microchannel to generate concentration gradients. The stability and shape of growth factor gradients were confirmed by fluorescein isothyiocyanate (FITC)-dextran with a molecular weight similar to epidermal growth factor (EGF). Using this microfluidic device, we demonstrated that fibroblasts exposed to concentration gradients of EGF migrated toward higher concentrations. The directional orientation of cell migration and motility of migrating cells were quantitatively assessed by cell tracking analysis. Thus, this gradient-generating microfluidic device might be useful for studying and analyzing the behavior of migrating cells.

    PMID:
    18989442
    [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
    PMCID:
    PMC2565846
    Free PMC Article

      Supplemental Content

      Icon for MyJove Corporation Icon for PubMed Central

      Save items

      Recent activity

      Your browsing activity is empty.

      Activity recording is turned off.

      Turn recording back on

      See more...
      Write to the Help Desk