MICROFLUIDIC PLATFORM FOR INVESTIGATING CELL-BASED INTERACTIONS

摘要

A microfluidic platform 10 for investigating cell-based interactions according to the present invention comprises a chip base 12 made of a suitable plastic material with suitable optical properties. The chip base 12 has a plurality of ports in fluid communication with microfluidic channels for containing the culture medium in which the cells are retained. Preferably, the gas permeable laminate 20 is bonded to the bottom surface of the chip base 12 . Each port 14 has an internal inlet 22 connecting the port 14 to a microfluidic channel 16 and a trough 24 containing a small reservoir of culture medium fluid adjacent the inlet 22 . wherein in use, the culture medium is drawn from the microfluidic channel through a trough rather than directly from the inlet.