Dynamic cell culture using microfluidic recirculation valves adds important stimuli that bring in vitro experiments closer to the complexity of physiological conditions. In a living organism, cells are constantly perfused by body fluids, such as blood and interstitial fluids. Therefore, controlling the flow rate of media helps recreate a dynamic environment and allows for precise control of shear stress, nutrient delivery and waste removal. Microfluidic instruments allow to expose the cells to different flow profiles and different substrates.
This application note illustrates how to set-up a recirculation protocol for dynamic cell culture using the OB1 pressure/flow controller, the MUX wire valve controller in combination with two low pressure 3-way valves. This set-up, controlled by the proprietary ESI software, allows long-term automated and unidirectional cell perfusion with a predefined amount of medium. This will save cell culture medium and simultaneously allow the accumulation of desired cell products and offers an alternative to the microfluidic set-up using the MUX-injection valve.
Some applications of recirculation in cell culture include:
Cell and biology pack
Microfluidic chamber designed for perfusion (IBIDI µSlide I Luer)
Flow controller OB1 Mk3+
Mux-wire
3-way valve
Microfluidic bubble trap
Flow sensor
Tubing, fittings and reservoirs
The above image shows the two circuits in a single image. The media flow in the system can be broken up in two circuits for easier understanding, each diagram depicting one flow direction (see below):
Circuit 1:
Circuit 2:
Step 1: Manually fill chip with media without introducing air bubbles.
Step 2: Seed cells into the microfluidic chip using a pipette.
Step 3: Incubate for 6-24 h to allow cells to attach.
Step 4: Connect the chip to the set-up without introducing air bubbles.
TIP: start with 20 µL\min and do not attach the chip until a small droplet is present at the end of the tubing that needs to be attached to the inlet of the channel
Step 5: Set both valves on N.O. using ESI software.
Step 6: Start flow from reservoir 1 (pressurize using OB1 channel 1). Reservoir 2 will collect the flow-through from the chip. Perfuse for desired amount of time.
TIP: start with a ramp if shear stress is high (based on type of cells used)
Step 7: Set both valves on N.C. using ESI software.
Step 8: Start flow from reservoir 2 (pressurize using OB1 channel 2). Reservoir 1 will collect the flow-through from the chip. Perfuse for desired amount of time.
HeLa cells grown under dynamic perfusion with recirculating medium (50h after attachment, 20 µL/min, phase contrast image).
Live/dead staining of HeLa cells grown under dynamic perfusion with recirculating medium (50h after attachment, 20 µL/min). Live cells are stained with calcein (green), dead cells with Propidium Iodide (red).
Application note written by Francesca Romana BRUGNOLI – Acknowledgement: This work was done thanks to the funding of European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme NeuroTrans (H2020-MSCA-ITN-2019-Action “Innovative Training Networks”, Grant agreement number: 860954) and the support from the French Agence Nationale de la recherche (ANR) in the frame of ERA-NET JPco-fuND 2019 (Orgtherapy).
How can we help you?
Name*
Email*
Message
Newsletter subscription
We will answer within 24 hours
By filling in your info you accept that we use your data.
Do you want tips on how to best set up your microfluidic experiment? Do you need inspiration or a different angle to take on your specific problem? Well, we probably have an application note just for you, feel free to check them out!
Biofilm testing using a simple microfluidic chip channel for in situ observation of their development under flow conditions.
Microfluidics for microscopy imaging in plant biology allows to observe, in vivo, the biological response of plant roots to various stimuli.
This application note describes how co-culture of different cell types in separate but interconnected chambers is possible in a microfluidic platform
This application note explains how to study bacteria adaptation to stress and environmental changes such as antibiotics.
In this application note we describe how to create a medium recirculation for dynamic cell culture with a microfluidic setup.
In this application note we describe how to stain cells for dynamic cell culture with different microfluidic setups.
In this application note we describe how to do cell perfusion for dynamic cell culture and a way to enable uni-directional recirculation of medium.
A simple guide to do dynamic cell culture by automating cell seeding in a microlfuidic chip
This application note proposes a microfluidic cardiac cell culture model (μCCCM) to recreate mechanical loading conditions observed in the native heart (in both normal and pathological conditions) by using an Elveflow OB1 pressure and flow controller.
In this application note, we will describe how to perform an automated and fast medium switch thanks to the Perfusion Pack.
Medium switch is widely used in cell biology. One application is the study of cell behavior under given flow conditions for different samples. In this tutorial, we walk you through the steps of a fast and stable medium switch using IBIDI© flow cells.
Fluorescence reader for microfluidic qPCR: faster, more sensitive and less expensive than most optical microscopes, it is a smart alternative for real-time fluorescence measurements of your on-chip qPCR signal.
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death for men. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are considered as a marker of early cancer diagnosis and disease severity. Their screening in blood is thus crucial to detect metastatic stage in cancer patients.
Until recently, microfluidic devices have been employed to support tissue-engineering experiments on basal lamina, vascular tissue, liver, bone, cartilage and neurons as well as organ-on-chips.
This application note presents how to perform cell culture on chip using the Cell and Biology Pack and the MicroSlides developed by ALine Inc.
Get a quote
Collaborations
Need customer support?
Serial Number of your product
Support Type AdviceHardware SupportSoftware Support
Subject*
I hereby agree that Elveflow uses my personal data Newsletter subscription
Message I hereby agree that Elveflow uses my personal data Newsletter subscription