Rapid Fabrication of Microfluidic Devices for Biological Mimicking: A Survey of Materials and Biocompatibility

Author(s)

Ma, Hui Ling ^{[1, 2]} ; Urbaczek, Ana Carolina ^[1] ; Ribeiro de Souza, Fayene Zeferino ^[1] ; Gomes Garrido Carneiro Leao, Paulo Augusto ^[1] ; Perussi, Janice Rodrigues ^[1] ; Carrilho, Emanuel ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Quim Sao Carlos, BR-13566590 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[2] INCTBio, Inst Nacl Ciencia & Tecnol Bioanalit, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: MICROMACHINES; v. 12, n. 3 MAR 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Microfluidics is an essential technique used in the development of in vitro models for mimicking complex biological systems. The microchip with microfluidic flows offers the precise control of the microenvironment where the cells can grow and structure inside channels to resemble in vivo conditions allowing a proper cellular response investigation. Hence, this study aimed to develop low-cost, simple microchips to simulate the shear stress effect on the human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Differentially from other biological microfluidic devices described in the literature, we used readily available tools like heat-lamination, toner printer, laser cutter and biocompatible double-sided adhesive tapes to bind different layers of materials together, forming a designed composite with a microchannel. In addition, we screened alternative substrates, including polyester-toner, polyester-vinyl, glass, Permanox(R) and polystyrene to compose the microchips for optimizing cell adhesion, then enabling these microdevices when coupled to a syringe pump, the cells can withstand the fluid shear stress range from 1 to 4 dyne cm(2). The cell viability was monitored by acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining to detect live and dead cells. As a result, our fabrication processes were cost-effective and straightforward. The materials investigated in the assembling of the microchips exhibited good cell viability and biocompatibility, providing a dynamic microenvironment for cell proliferation. Therefore, we suggest that these microchips could be available everywhere, allowing in vitro assays for daily laboratory experiments and further developing the organ-on-a-chip concept. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/50867-3 - INCT 2014: National Institute of Science and Technology in Bioanalysis
• Grantee: Marco Aurelio Zezzi Arruda
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 15/17145-7 - A fully integrated polyester-toner (PT) based microchip for genetic analyses: Development and applications
• Grantee: Emanuel Carrilho
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants