The method to generate pulsatile circulatory fluid flow using microfluidics

Abstract

Microfluidic chips provide versatile tools to mimic the biological effect of blood flow on pluripotent stem cells (PSC). This paper presents methods for the use of microfluidics to model embryonic circulation using differentiated PSC. Pulsatile circulatory flow is created with a microfluidics device with pressure-driven microvalves and ventricles. Silicone rubber devices are cast from moulds manufactured using standard and 3D laser lithography. The surface chemistry is modified to support the growth of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and pluripotent stem cells. Pulsatile circulatory fluid flow can be applied at specific stages of cell differentiation with direct observation of cellular responses by time-lapse fluorescent microscopy. • Replicable manufacturing protocol of lab scale microfluidic device generating pulsatile fluid flow mimicry embryonic blood circulation. • Integration of human cell lines on microfluidic chip.

Keywords

• Pulsatile circulatory fluid flow
• Lab on a chip
• Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs)
• Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs)