Gradient Generator Development Service
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Creative Biolabs develops and constructs microfluidic gradient generators that achieve precise control of physical and chemical signals. Our integrated microfluidic chips will be the best tool in the fields of cell migration, cancer metastasis, chemotaxis research, etc.
Microfluidic Gradient Generator
Microfluidic chips are a new system for manipulating and processing liquids in microliters. By manipulating fluids in microchannels and combining diversified functional units, microfluidic chips can realize different technical functions and meet specific experimental needs in multiple research fields.
The optimized strategy allows Creative Biolabs to construct concentration gradient microfluidic chips through multiple principles, which can be used to generate stable and controllable concentration gradients and determine the spatial resolution on the micrometer scale. Our well-designed chips are based on cutting-edge, proven principles.
Fig 1. Microfluidic gradient generators applying different design principles. (Hu, et al. 2017)
Microfluidic gradient generators using the principle of convective mixing often contain a network of microchannels with multiple branches, and fluids with different compositions mix at the intersection of channels and then split in subsequent channels. Multiple splits and mixes recombine the original liquid stream into different concentrations of the target reagents in different focused channels. The most common convective mixing gradient generator has a Christmas tree structure, Creative Biolabs will provide our clients with a convective mixing generator based on serial dilution and diffusion mixing of parallel laminar flow, capable of generating/controlling a gradient with a special shape and maintaining it for a long time.
Fig 2. Convective mixing for different gradient builds through Christmas tree channel design. (Sweet, et al. 2020)
The working principle of the laminar diffusion gradient generator is to combine two liquid streams with different compositions at the junction into the main channel, and the components contained in each laminar flow will gradually diffuse and mix, thereby creating a gradient perpendicular to the direction of the channel downstream of the flow. Such chips are usually simple in structure and easy to fabricate.
Microfluidic gradient generators based on the principle of static diffusion are one of the most commonly used chip designs in biological experiments. Such chips create convective-free gradients in the main channel through high fluid resistance building blocks (narrow channels, micropillar arrays, hydrogels, microporous membranes). Although this type of chip takes a long time to build a stable gradient, the special design excludes the shear stress generated by liquid flow, and its convenient operation process and stable concentration distribution make this type of chip widely used in biological assays. accept. The static diffusion gradient chip Creative Biolabs provides will be the gold standard for cell migration.
Fig 3. Construction of 3D concentration gradients by static diffusion. (Zhang, et al., 2015)
Applications of Micro Gradient Generators
Gradient generation chip has a wide range of applications in the field of biochemical analysis. Its most classic application field is to use microfluidic chips to construct mature and stable component gradients for research including cell differentiation, cell migration, cancer metastasis, drug screening, reaction condition optimization, cell chemotaxis and drug synthesis.
In addition, microfluidic gradient generators are emerging technology platforms that allow applications in multiple scientific fields, including surface physicochemical gradients and solution shear stress gradient generation for cell growth analysis, or refractive index gradient construction for photochemical research.
Our Services
As an emerging technology platform, microfluidic significantly improves the resolution of gradient generation and related studies, and significantly reduce analysis time and other workloads. Creative Biolabs provides our clients with basic gradient generation chips with simple operation and high practicability. These chips will realize the stabilization and miniaturization of related experiments at a reasonable cost and easy operation, as well as carry out biology, chemistry, physics research with additional information. In addition, we are also willing to help you develop, design and construct new chip structures that meet your specific experimental needs. With the support of our excellent precision processing platform, you may take full advantage of the benefits of microfluidic chips, integrate more functions and explore its infinite application possibilities, so don't hesitate to contact us for more information.
References
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Hu, C.; et al. Microfluidic platforms for gradient generation and its applications. Biochemistry & Analytical Biochemistry. 2017, 6: 2.
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Sweet, A.; et al. 3D microfluidic gradient generator for combination antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Microsystems & Nanoengineering. 2020, 6: 92.
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Zhang, F.; et al. Generation of gradients on a microfluidic device: toward a high-throughput investigation of spermatozoa Chemotaxis. PLoS ONE. 2015, 10(11): 0142555.
For Research Use Only. Not For Clinical Use.
