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Make your cells feel at home with microfluidics

It can be easy to forget just how alien an environment in vitro culture is when culturing cells. In vivo, cells exist in a multi-faceted micro-environment made up of a carefully regulated biochemical milieu combined with cell-to-cell/matrix contacts and specific physiochemical properties. Yet culture vessels have evolved over the years, often with little consideration of what is actually best for cells. Historically, cell culture vessels looked like they had been taken straight out of the kitchen (and they probably were): simple bottles of reagent with rudimentary agitation systems. When research needed something smaller, basic plates and flasks were utilized for adherent culture.

More recently, innovative cell culture vessels such as stirred tank bioreactors have been developed – optimized for things such as gas transfer and mixing. 3D cell culture techniques have enabled cells to be grown in three dimensions, replicating some in vivo interactions, whilst the introduction of cell culture cartridges have taken this approach one step further. However, most of these innovations have been focused automation and cell culture for non-mammalian cells. A truly cell-friendly vessel for mammalian cells is yet to be developed.

We asked MFXs VP of Microfluidics, Césaré Cejas, PhD what makes microfluidic cell culture so very different; “Microfluidics  offers a new approach, allowing for an unprecedented level of control of the cell micro-environment. Microfluidic cell culture has been around for less than 30 years but is already revolutionizing the field of mammalian cell culture. In addition to higher cell densities, a significant improvement in transduction efficiency and better and more persistent phenotypes can be achieved.”

The fact that microfluidics is highly automatable, reduces manufacturing costs, and allows the flexibility to easily fit channels with sensors is an added bonus!

MicrofluidX’s Cyto Engine™ is leveraging microfluidics to create the best possible environment for mammalian cells. By putting the cells first, we deliver incomparable process efficiency and control.