A Microfluidic Chip Containing Multiple 3D ECM-based Scaffolds for Culturing Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Microfluidics offers various advantages over conventional platforms, such as low cost and relatively easy fabrication, low volume consumption and short time for analysis. This technology has proven to be very useful for high throughput analysis, and more relevant to investigate in-vivo like chemical and biological processes.

In this study, we have fabricated a new microfluidic set-up to investigate the effect of soluble factor gradients on the development of an engineered tissue in a high throughput manner. The designed system is comprised of two layers, a fluid gradient inducing channel layer, and a layer for multiple 3D biomaterial scaffolds. The fabricated device was able to expose multiple induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) constructs located in distinct channels to a gradient of solutions.

We envision that such device will allow us to study the influence of different soluble factor concentrations on engineered tissues and thus assist to engineer more functional tissues.