Microfluidic endothelial cell culture experimental kit

Endothelial Cell Culture

Biologically active cell monolayer with stable hemodynamics

• Microfluidic endothelial cells (EC) culture
  Complete experiment kit, start experimenting right out of the box.
• Dynamic perfusion conditions
  Laminar flow controlled shear stress for media distribution
• Improved in vitro model
  The culture conditions are closer to the cell layer conditions in vivo
• Multipurpose of the experimental kit
  It can be used for experiments such as organ culture, droplet generation, fluid circulation, multiple liquid distribution, and microbubble generation

Based on a high-precision OB1 flow controller and membrane biochip, the Microfluidic Endothelial Cell Culture Assay Kit contains the microfluidic components researchers need to establish endothelial cell cultures with improved EC-labeled protein expression and good cell adhesion. The kit uses a microfluidic chip to achieve endothelial cell layer culture of in vitro models that are as close to in vivo conditions as possible.

Microfluidic endothelial cell culture

The basic microfluidic endothelial cell culture experimental kit contains a pressure channel connected to the microfluidic liquid dispensing valve MUX Distribution12, which can seed two different types of cells on either side of the membrane layer in the chip, allowing for the creation of more physiologically relevant endothelial cell layers that can be used for new treatment advancements or toxicity screening. The MUX Distribution12 microfluidic liquid dispensing valve can be used for easy injection of different substances such as FITC-dextran and the chip channel of concern is selected using the 3/2 microfluidic valve. The perfusion efficiency will be directly related to the flow rate inside the upper and lower channels. Liquid flow can be measured in real time with multiple liquid flow sensors MFS or BFS.

Microfluidic endothelial cell culture kits control strain, shear stress, and stress to approximate physiological realities. Therefore, experimental conditions using this kit are more important and effective than cell culture in classical well or cell mode mode.

The Microfluidic Endothelial Cell Culture Assay Kit ensures compatibility between different components, allowing you to quickly and immediately perform experiments, test with a unique graphical interface operating software, and use it for a variety of other applications.

The Microfluidic Enothelial Cell Culture Experimental Kit includes components:

• OB1 MK3+ flow controller
• Microfluidic Liquid Dispensing Valve MUX Distribution12
• Microfluidic circulation valve MUX Recirculation – Liquid media circulation
• Microfluidic low-flow sensor MFS
• Microfluidic cell culture chip (with cross-flow membrane) – fluid flow in the upper and lower parts of the diaphragm
• Several sample reservoirs and media
• Microfluidic 3/2 valve
• Controller WIRE for Microfluidic 3/2 Valves
• 9-well manifold – for gas partial pressure, distributes air pressure from the OB1 flow controller to multiple sample reservoirs
• Microfluidic catheters and fittings
• Graphical operating software ESI – automated cell culture operation
• (If necessary, primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC))

Why use microfluidics for endothelial cell culture?

First, the use of microfluidic technology is a way to reduce the potentially precious and rare samples required for reactions.

Second, at the microfluidic scale, fluid properties can be adjusted as precisely as possible to mimic cell growth conditions in vivo. The combination of the OB1 flow controller, MUX liquid dispensing valves and 3/2 valves, and the graphical interface operating software ESI allows for the creation of highly effective and controllable experiments.

Third, creating microfluidic models of human organs is more efficient than 2D classical models or animal models. Microfluidic systems provide more accurate physiological conditions than traditional techniques. In addition, both the European Union and the general public are working to reduce the use of animal models.

The microfluidic endothelial cell layer allows for more flexible, precise, and effective experiments to assess drug toxicity or the effects of pathogens on endothelial cells.

Microfluidic endothelial cell culture principles

Since vascular dysfunction is an important consequence of major diseases such as diabetes or cancer, vascular endothelial dysfunction is a great deal of work to study the responses of endothelial cells to various chemical, biological, or physical stimuli in vitro [1]. Organ-on-a-chip is a very promising field to prevent drug clinical failure and replace classical 2D cell culture and animal model testing [2]. Researchers can create endothelial cell culture models in microfluidic channels separated by membranes to obtain physiologically relevant biomechanical conditions with actual flow, strain, shear stress, and pressure [3-4]. This microfluidic system has also been used to study endothelial cells at the blood-brain barrier to establish models of human-related diseases [5]. The permeability of the endothelial cell layer as a function of the shear stress applied to this layer has also been studied in a system of two channels separated by a membrane [6].

1. A. D. van der Meer, A. A. Poot, M. H. G. Duits, J. Feijen, I. Vermes, “Microfluidic Technology in Vascular Research”, BioMed Research International, vol. 2009, Article ID 823148, 10 pages, 2009
2. Capulli A. K., Tian K., Mehandru N., Bukhta A., Choudhury S.F., Suchyta M., Parker K.K., Approaching the in vitro clinical trial: engineering organs on chips, Lab Chip, 2014,14, 3181-3186
3. Estrada R., Giridharan G.A., Nguyen M-D, Roussel T-J, Shakeri M, Parichehreh V., Prabhu S.D., and Sethu P., Endothelial Cell Culture Model for Replication of Physiological Profiles of Pressure, Flow, Stretch, and Shear Stress in Vitro, Anal. Chem. 2011, 83, 8, 3170–3177
4. Estrada R., Giridharan G.A., Nguyen M-D, Roussel T-J, Prabhu S.D., and Sethu P., Microfluidic endothelial cell culture model to replicate disturbed flow conditions seen in atherosclerosis susceptible regions, Biomicrofluidics, 5, 032006 (2011)
5. L. M. Griep, F. Wolbers, B. de Wagenaar, P. M. ter Braak, B. B. Weksler, I. A. Romero P. O. Couraud, I. Vermes & A. D. van der Meer, A. van den Berg, BBB ON CHIP: microfluidic platform to mechanically and biochemically modulate blood-brain barrier function, Biomedical Microdevices volume 15, 145–150 (2013)
6. Young E. W. K., Watson M. W. L., Srigunapalan S., Wheeler A. R., Simmons C. A., Technique for Real-Time Measurements of Endothelial Permeability in a Microfluidic Membrane Chip Using Laser-Induced Fluorescence Detection, Anal. Chem. 2010, 82, 808–816

Configure your microfluidic endothelial cell culture kit

The cross-flow membrane included in this set is made of COP or PS (polystyrene) materials, which can be hydrophilic or non-hydrophilic. Depending on the specific application, you can choose from two different pore sizes: 0.2 μm or 8 μm. The diaphragm is also available for customization.

The components in the microfluidic endothelial cell culture kit can be customized, such as removing the microfluidic liquid dispensing valve MUX Distribution12, the liquid flow sensor MFS, and adding the CS mass flow sensor BFS to further improve flow control.

We offer a range of reservoirs compatible with OB1 flow controllers, from 1.5mL Eppendorf tubes to 100mL glass bottles.

Air bubbles are a problem for cell culture, and it is necessary to remove as much air bubbles as possible from the liquid in the chip channel. You can use a deblister made of high-temperature sterilizable PEEK to remove air bubbles from liquid media.

Product introduction link:

For a detailed introduction to the OB1 MK3+ – Multi-channel Microfluidic Pressure & Vacuum Controller, please click here

For a detailed introduction to AF1 Pump – Precision Microfluidic Pressure Pump: Micro Portable Mobility, please click here

For a detailed introduction to the AF1 DUAL Pump – Precision Microfluidic Pressure & Vacuum Pump: Micro Portable Mobility, please click here

For a detailed introduction to ESI-Microfluidic Instrumentation’s intelligent graphical interface operating software, please click here

ESI-Microfluidic Intelligent Graphical Interface Operation Software ESI outputs different waveforms for an introduction to the driving pressure or liquid flow, please click here

For a detailed description of the BFS – Microfluidic Coriolis Flow Sensor (no calibration, direct measurement) click here

For a detailed introduction to MFS-Microfluidic Thermal Flow Sensors, please click here

For a detailed description of the MSR-Microfluidic Flow and Pressure Sensor Reading Unit (Acquisition Card), please click here

For a detailed introduction to the MUX Distributor 10 – Microfluidic Flow Distribution Valve, please click here

For a detailed introduction to MUX Injection-Microfluidic Liquid Circulation Valve, please click here

For a detailed introduction to Bubble Remover – Microfluidic Defoamer, please click here