Slit between Micro Machined Plates for Observation of Passing Cell: Deformation and Velocity

摘要

A micro slit between micro ridges has been used for observation of a biological cell passing through the micro slit in vitro. At the middle part of the flow channel, the slit (0.8 mm < width < 2 mm, 0.01 mm height) has been made between the micro ridges on the transparent polydimethylsiloxane plate and the glass plate by photolithography technique. Four kinds of cells were used in the test: C2C12 (mouse myoblast cells), Hepal-6 (mouse hepatoma cells), MC3T3-E1 (mouse osteoblast precursor cell line), and Neuro-2a (mouse neural crest-derived cell line). The suspension of each kind of cells was injected to the slits. The deformation of cells passing through the micro slit was observed with an inverted phase-contrast microscope. For the reference, the passing speed of the porcine red blood cells through the slit was observed. The experimental results show that cells deform to the flat circular disk and pass through the micro slit. The passing velocity through the slit depends on the deformation ratio of the cell. The designed slit between micro ridges has capability for observation of the deformation and the passing velocity of the single cell.