Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 1816 |
| Journal | Cells |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue number | 14 |
| Publication status | Published - 9 Jul 2023 |
Abstract
The use of three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures has become increasingly popular in the contexts of drug discovery, disease modelling, and tissue engineering, as they aim to replicate in vivo-like conditions. To achieve this, new hydrogels are being developed to mimic the extracellular matrix. Testing the ability of these hydrogels is crucial, and the presented 3D-printed microfluidic perfusion system offers a novel solution for the parallel cultivation and evaluation of four separate 3D cell cultures. This system enables easy microscopic monitoring of the hydrogel-embedded cells and significantly reduces the required volumes of hydrogel and cell suspension. This cultivation device is comprised of two 3D-printed parts, which provide four cell-containing hydrogel chambers and the associated perfusion medium chambers. An interfacing porous membrane ensures a defined hydrogel thickness and prevents flow-induced hydrogel detachment. Integrated microfluidic channels connect the perfusion chambers to the overall perfusion system, which can be operated in a standard CO 2-incubator. A 3D-printed adapter ensures the compatibility of the cultivation device with standard imaging systems. Cultivation and cell staining experiments with hydrogel-embedded murine fibroblasts confirmed that cell morphology, viability, and growth inside this cultivation device are comparable with those observed within standard 96-well plates. Due to the high degree of customization offered by additive manufacturing, this system has great potential to be used as a customizable platform for 3D cell culture applications.
Keywords
- 3D cell culture, 3D printing, hydrogel, membrane integration, microfluidic perfusion system, organ-on-chip
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
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In: Cells, Vol. 12, No. 14, 1816, 09.07.2023.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - 3D-Printed Microfluidic Perfusion System for Parallel Monitoring of Hydrogel-Embedded Cell Cultures
AU - Meyer, Katharina V.
AU - Winkler, Steffen
AU - Lienig, Pascal
AU - Dräger, Gerald
AU - Bahnemann, Janina
N1 - Funding Information: The authors acknowledge the financial support of the German Research Foundation (DFG) via the Emmy Noether Programme (346772917). The open access publication of this article was supported by the DFG sponsored Open Access Fund of the University of Augsburg.
PY - 2023/7/9
Y1 - 2023/7/9
N2 - The use of three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures has become increasingly popular in the contexts of drug discovery, disease modelling, and tissue engineering, as they aim to replicate in vivo-like conditions. To achieve this, new hydrogels are being developed to mimic the extracellular matrix. Testing the ability of these hydrogels is crucial, and the presented 3D-printed microfluidic perfusion system offers a novel solution for the parallel cultivation and evaluation of four separate 3D cell cultures. This system enables easy microscopic monitoring of the hydrogel-embedded cells and significantly reduces the required volumes of hydrogel and cell suspension. This cultivation device is comprised of two 3D-printed parts, which provide four cell-containing hydrogel chambers and the associated perfusion medium chambers. An interfacing porous membrane ensures a defined hydrogel thickness and prevents flow-induced hydrogel detachment. Integrated microfluidic channels connect the perfusion chambers to the overall perfusion system, which can be operated in a standard CO 2-incubator. A 3D-printed adapter ensures the compatibility of the cultivation device with standard imaging systems. Cultivation and cell staining experiments with hydrogel-embedded murine fibroblasts confirmed that cell morphology, viability, and growth inside this cultivation device are comparable with those observed within standard 96-well plates. Due to the high degree of customization offered by additive manufacturing, this system has great potential to be used as a customizable platform for 3D cell culture applications.
AB - The use of three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures has become increasingly popular in the contexts of drug discovery, disease modelling, and tissue engineering, as they aim to replicate in vivo-like conditions. To achieve this, new hydrogels are being developed to mimic the extracellular matrix. Testing the ability of these hydrogels is crucial, and the presented 3D-printed microfluidic perfusion system offers a novel solution for the parallel cultivation and evaluation of four separate 3D cell cultures. This system enables easy microscopic monitoring of the hydrogel-embedded cells and significantly reduces the required volumes of hydrogel and cell suspension. This cultivation device is comprised of two 3D-printed parts, which provide four cell-containing hydrogel chambers and the associated perfusion medium chambers. An interfacing porous membrane ensures a defined hydrogel thickness and prevents flow-induced hydrogel detachment. Integrated microfluidic channels connect the perfusion chambers to the overall perfusion system, which can be operated in a standard CO 2-incubator. A 3D-printed adapter ensures the compatibility of the cultivation device with standard imaging systems. Cultivation and cell staining experiments with hydrogel-embedded murine fibroblasts confirmed that cell morphology, viability, and growth inside this cultivation device are comparable with those observed within standard 96-well plates. Due to the high degree of customization offered by additive manufacturing, this system has great potential to be used as a customizable platform for 3D cell culture applications.
KW - 3D cell culture
KW - 3D printing
KW - hydrogel
KW - membrane integration
KW - microfluidic perfusion system
KW - organ-on-chip
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85165961037&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/cells12141816
DO - 10.3390/cells12141816
M3 - Article
VL - 12
JO - Cells
JF - Cells
SN - 2073-4409
IS - 14
M1 - 1816
ER -