Cell differentiation guidance using chemical stimulation controlled by a microfluidic device

This paper presents the testing of a cell differentiation control using a microfluidic device. The microfluidic device consists of a cell culture chamber, a microchannel, a microvalve, and a nano-hole array. Because these components are fabricated very close to one another, the microvalve switching allows precise control for releasing chemicals. Therefore, a cell cultured on the device is stimulated directly by chemicals through the nano-hole array. We cultured PC12 cells (adrenal pheochromocytoma) on the fabricated microfluidic device, and carried out experiments of cell differentiation guidance using the nerve growth factor (NGF) which enhances axonal outgrowth from a cell body. These results indicate that the cell growth depended on distance between the cell and the nano-hole array. Also, the cell differentiation and the axon elongation were affected materially by the frequency and the duty factor of the valve switching. Therefore, we can guide cell differentiation and axon elongation by controlling them using the fabricated device. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.