DEVICE AND MICROFLUIDIC SYSTEM FOR STUDYING CELL CULTURES

摘要

The present invention relates to a novel microfluidic device and a microfluidic system for culturing cell samples based on: one or more culture wells (2) forming cell housing volumes for three-dimensional cell culture; one or more capillary channels (1) for circulating cells and/or fluid media, said channels (1) being connected to the wells (2) as well perfusion means; and an inlet port (3) and an outlet port (3′) for seeding cells and/or for circulating fluid in said channel (1), said ports (3, 3′) being connected to the ends of each capillary channel (1). The novel configuration of the ports (3, 3′) and their corresponding channels (1) allows known microfluidic perfusion media to be improved, dispensing with the use of complex elements for injecting the fluid media, such as syringe pumps, for example. The invention also allows two-dimensional and three-dimensional culture studies to be performed simultaneously.