Integrating Three-Dimensional Cell Culture Scaffolds in Microfluidic Devices

SLU ID 16-006 | Using Direct Electrospinning to Integrate Three-Dimensional Cell Culture Scaffolds in Microfluidic Devices

Background

Microfluidic devices are becoming widely used analytical tools for a variety of applications. These devices have numerous advantages and are creating new opportunities to advance research methods and capabilities.

Overview

Researchers at Saint Louis University have developed a microfluidic cell-on-a-chip bioreactor that enables in vitro cell culture on an extracellular matrix-resembling three dimensional (3D) scaffold and cell studies under flow conditions. This bioreactor mimics in vivo microenvironments and allows long-term solution circulation, which can be used as a miniaturized perfusion-based bioreactor.

Benefits

The potential benefits of this technology include:

• Increasing reliability of results from in vitro cell and tissue studies

• Minimizing the cost of cell and tissue studies

• Minimizing the cost of fabricating microfluidic devices

• Minimizing the complexity of the fabrication process

• Minimizing the fragility of microfluidic devices

• Minimizing the difficulty of connecting microfluidic devices with other devices and instruments

• Minimizing the amount of waste produced

Applications

The potential applications of this technology include:

• Pharmaceutical studies

• Pharmacodynamics (PD) and pharmacokinetics (PK) studies

• Drug discovery

• Drug toxicity assessments

• Routine laboratory investigations

• Cell and tissue culture substrates for research laboratories

Opportunity

Saint Louis University is seeking partners to further develop and commercialize this technology.