Microfluidic Cell Culture System for Live Cell Imaging

摘要

We describe a novel micro-fabricated live cell containment device (cellTRAY) designed specifically for imaging live cells. The device enables the precise containment of cells in an optical glass substrate, the size of a standard 1"×3" microscope slide, comprising a micro-array of thousands of wells for isolating cells (or small groups of cells) for experimentation and imaging. Cells can be observed before and after replication allowing the researcher to monitor the response of cells to other stimuli. The cellTRAY also contains microfluidic channels that allow life support and reagents to be administered to the various wells. Nanopoint has two cellTRAY designs that differ in their ability to actively or passively flow fluid through their microfluidic channels. The active microfluidic cellTRAY has a syringe pump design, which allows users to regulate fluid flow. The cellTRAY is the only active microfluidic device that is mechanically open, but fluidically closed.