A microfluidic device for tissue biopsy culture and interrogation

This communication reports the development of a microfluidic device capable of maintaining the long-term culture of viable tissue biopsies. Tissue-based models will enable evaluation of cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions within multi-cellular systems. The device demonstrated is a prototype, fabricated with the capacity to receive biopsy samples up to 2 mm(3), from various tissue sources. Presently, this system has been tested with human colorectal tissue biopsies, for periods in excess of 3 days. The response of normal colorectal tissue and neoplastic biopsies to hypoxia was assayed by the release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) into the media, which was measured off-chip. As anticipated, the hypoxia induced a greater VEGF response in the tumour biopsies than the nonmalignant tissue.