3D Cell Culture Microfluidic Chip Development Service

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Introduction 3D Cell Culture Organoids Services Features Q&As Resources

Recently, 3D cell culture has gained more attention because it is closer to clinical tests compared with the 2D cell culture model. In this context, the advent of microfluidic chips provides 3D cell culture more possibilities. As an industry-leading CRO company, Creative Biolabs is dedicated to supporting 3D cell culture services by designing and developing microfluidic chips.

Introduction of 3D Cell Culture

Cell culture under the 3D model can better mimic the actual complex environment in vivo than the conventional 2D culture model, in terms of extracellular matrix components, cell-to-cell, and cell-to-matrix interaction. Compared with the 2D culture model, the results of drug screening under 3D mode are closer to clinical tests and can provide more realistic predictions for safety and risk assessment.

Microfluidic Chip and 3D Cell Culture

The emergence of the microfluidic chip technique has provided a miniaturized platform for 3D cell culture with low consumption, high cell spheroid formation efficiency, integrated devices, and better control to spheroid sizes and flows in spatial and temporal domains, which could mimic in vivo-like microenvironments with high precision and throughput. So far, a variety of different microfluidic methods have been developed to perform 3D cell culture for forming cell spheroids in microfluidic systems, which could be divided into three types which are hanging-drop, microstructure array, and droplet-based microfluidics.

The microfluidic hanging-drop devices have a similar structure as conventional systems in which cells aggregate to the concave bottom of a drop hung on the bottom of a substrate by gravity, and tend to form cell spheroids by the natural organization through cell-cell attachment and production of extracellular matrix (ECM).
The droplet-based microfluidic systems can generate gel droplets with high throughput for forming cell spheroids in droplets.
For the microstructure array method, U-shaped or cubic-shaped microstructures are usually fabricated in a microchip, to trap cells into the pocket of each microstructure for 3D culture through the actions of fluid flow and gravity.

Fig. 1 Microfluidic 3D cell culture.¹

Microfluidics-based 3D Cell Culture in Organoids

Microfluidics-based 3D cell culture systems are now emerging as platforms for more accurate and cost-effective drug development and testing as an avenue toward laboratory-grown tissue and organ replacements. A distinct subset of 3D cell culture, organoids are self-organized tissue systems derived from stem cells including induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), embryonic stem cells (ESCs), and in vivo derived progenitor populations. They can reflect much of the complexity of the organ they model or present with certain aspects of the organ. They can be distinguished from organ-on-chip technology that relies on engineering-specific complexity or features into the system, such as distinct spatial separation of different cell types and/or extracellular matrices, in order to model a key organ or tissue function or subunit. An advantage of organoid cultures, compared to monolayer culture systems, is that it provides an environment allowing cell-cell interactions to be established, therefore mimicking the in vivo situation.

Fig. 2 3D hydrogel cell culture.²

Services at Creative Biolabs

Accumulated extensive experience from years of practice, Creative Biolabs has developed an advanced platform with the latest technologies. We have organized a staff of scientists who keeps learning and making progress at a high speed and thus provide our customers with high-quality and satisfying services. We are capable of offering microfluidic chips with the highest standard. Besides, we can also provide custom solutions to meet every requirement. If you are interested in our services or you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information.

Features and Benefits

High-Throughput Screening Capability

Our microfluidic chips facilitate parallel processing of multiple samples, significantly increasing experimental throughput. This accelerates drug discovery and development by allowing rapid testing of numerous drug candidates.

Compatibility with Imaging Modalities

The chips are compatible with various imaging techniques, enabling detailed observation and analysis of cell cultures. This compatibility ensures effective monitoring of cell behavior, morphology, and responses to treatments.

Continuous Nutrient Supply and Waste Removal

Microfluidic devices provide continuous nutrient flow and waste removal, maintaining optimal cell culture conditions. This setup mimics in vivo environments more accurately than static cultures.

Controlled Chemical Gradients

Our platform allows precise control of chemical gradients across the 3D cell culture. This is particularly useful for studying cell responses to different stimuli, such as drug treatments or environmental changes.

Modular Expansion Capability

The microfluidic chips are designed for modular expansion, enabling researchers to scale up experiments as needed. This flexibility supports a wide range of applications and research scales without significant changes to existing setups.

References

Duinen, Trietsch et al. " Microfluidic 3D cell culture: from tools to tissue models." Current Opinion in Biotechnology 35 (2015): 118-126.
Park, Son, et al. " High-Throughput Microfluidic 3D Cytotoxicity Assay for Cancer Immunotherapy (CACI-IMPACT Platform)." Frontiers in Immunology 10 (2019): 1133.

Q&As

Q: What is a 3D Cell Culture Microfluidic Chip?

A: A 3D Cell Culture Microfluidic Chip is a device designed to create three-dimensional cell cultures by controlling the microenvironment at a microscopic scale. These chips facilitate more accurate in vitro models by mimicking the in vivo conditions of tissues and organs, improving drug development and disease research.

Q: What advantages do 3D microfluidic chips offer over traditional 2D cell cultures?

A: 3D microfluidic chips provide a more realistic mimic of the in vivo environment, allowing for better cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix interactions. This leads to more accurate drug screening results and enhances the predictability of preclinical tests compared to traditional 2D cell cultures.

Q: What types of methods are used to perform 3D cell cultures on microfluidic chips?

A: Common methods include hanging-drop techniques, microstructure arrays, and droplet-based microfluidics. Each method has unique advantages for forming cell spheroids and maintaining the 3D structure of cultures, essential for accurate biological studies.

Q: What are the typical materials used in fabricating 3D cell culture microfluidic chips?

A: Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is commonly used due to its biocompatibility and transparency, which aids in microscopic observation. Other materials like polystyrene and polylactic acid are also used to improve performance and reduce molecule absorption issues.

Q: What challenges are associated with using 3D cell culture microfluidic chips?

A: Challenges include managing air bubbles and leaks, maintaining stable flow rates, and ensuring uniform cell distribution within the chips. These issues require careful setup and operation, but commercially available solutions and proper training can mitigate these challenges.