MICROFLUIDIC SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING AND FOR SUBSEQUENTLY CULTIVATING, AND SUBSEQUENT ANALYSIS OF COMPLEX CELL ARRANGEMENTS

摘要

A microfluidic system (12) for assembling and subsequently investigating complex cell arrangements has a three-dimensional microstructure (11) in which the cell culture is assembled, cultivated and investigated. At least two microchannel segments (16, 17) through which the microstructure (11) can be perfused from outside with a medium (21, 22) run in the microstructure (11), whereby the microchannel segments (16, 17) run at least in sections approximately parallel or equidistant to one another. The two microchannel segments (16, 17) are separated from one another by a wall structure (25) in which at least one aperture (26) connecting the two microchannel segments (16, 17) is provided. An electrode arrangement (27) is provided in or on the microstructure (11) in order to generate an inhomogeneous electric field (28) in the region of the at least one aperture (26). A cell arrangement is assembled in this microstructure (11) by supplying medium (21, 22) with cells (23, 24) for assembling the cell culture in the microstructure (11), with the inhomogeneous electric field (28) determined by the microstructure (11) bringing about the assembling of the cell arrangement from the supplied cells (23, 24).