Behavior of Cell Passing through Micro Slit

摘要

Behavior of a biological cell passing through a micro slit has been observed in vitro. The photolithography technique enables manufacturing the micro slit. A silicone disk is used for a mold, and a dry etching process is applied for the micro-fabrication. The slit, of which width is 0.85 mm and height is 0.001 mm, has been designed between two parts of transparent polydimethylsiloxane disks, which have micro ridges. The suspension of swine red blood cells or C2C12 (mouse myoblast cell line originated with cross-striated muscle of C3H mouse) has alternatively been introduced to the slits by drawing with a syringe pump. The behavior of cells passing through the micro slit has been observed with an inverted phase-contrast microscope. The experimental results show that several red blood cells can pass through the micro slit, although C2C12 cannot pass through the micro slit.