Home › Analytical Chem › Polydimethylsiloxane-polycarbonate Microfluidic Devices for Cell Migration Studies Under Perpendicular Chemical and Oxygen Gradients
Analytical Chem JoVE (Open Access) Citable · DOI

Polydimethylsiloxane-polycarbonate Microfluidic Devices for Cell Migration Studies Under Perpendicular Chemical and Oxygen Gradients

DOI: 10.3791/55292-v
What you'll learn
  • ✓ Fabricate polydimethylsiloxane-polycarbonate microfluidic devices for gradient studies
  • ✓ Establish perpendicular chemical and oxygen gradients in microfluidic chambers
  • ✓ Quantify cell migration responses to combined gradient conditions
Protocol

The control of chemical and oxygen gradients is essential for cell cultures. This paper reports a polydimethylsiloxane-polycarbonate (PDMS-PC) microfluidic device capable of reliably generating combinations of chemical and oxygen gradients for cell migration studies, which can be practically utilized in biological labs without sophisticated instrumentation.

Difficulty
advanced
Total time
~3–5 days (device fabrication and cell assay with characterization)
Model organism
Cell culture (not specified; applicable to various mammalian cell lines)
Biosafety
BSL-1

Steps

1
Fabricate polycarbonate-embedded microfluidic top layer

Design and fabricate the PC-embedded top layer using photolithography and etching techniques to create the structural foundation for gradient generation.

▶ 01:20
2
Assemble PDMS-PC microfluidic device components

Bond the polydimethylsiloxane and polycarbonate layers together using appropriate surface treatment and alignment methods to create a functional microfluidic chamber.

▶ 02:59
3
Conduct microfluidic cell migration assay protocol

Seed cells into the assembled device and establish perpendicular chemical and oxygen gradients using controlled flow conditions to initiate migration studies.

▶ 04:42
4
Characterize gradients and analyze cell migration responses

Measure chemical and oxygen gradient profiles within the device and quantify cell migration behavior under combined gradient conditions using imaging and image analysis.

▶ 08:38
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