Traditional bioreactors for tissue engineering offer interesting perspectives to study cell growth, however the co-existence of many macro-scale governing factors has not lead to robust results yet. Microfluidics represents an alternative approach to overcome such limitations. This work introduces a simple method of embedding conductive and flexible material within microfluidic devices as a means to realize microscale bioreactors for cell electrical stimulation. Thanks the proposed technology, three dimensional electrodes can be simply achieved. Advantages with the respect to expensive 3D electrode fabrication methods rely on the dramatic cost and complexity reduction, and the ability to obtain flexible electrodes (thus allowing for a combination of electro-mechanical stimulation). To validate this technology we designed and tested a microscale cell culture system with injected electrodes made of a mixture of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and PDMS. Microbioreactor devices realized with this technology were used and tested in terms of electrical activity and toxicity to cells. Over 7 days of H9c2 cell cultures were achieved under continuous electrical stimulation (bifasic, 1Hz, ±1.5mV). Cells were assessed with LIVE/DEAD and MTT assays showing no evidences of sufferance.

Embedding of Flexible Electrodes in a Microfluidic Device for Cell Electrical Stimulation

PAVESI, ANDREA;PIRAINO, FRANCESCO;DRAGHI, LORENZA;FIORE, GIANFRANCO BENIAMINO;RASPONI, MARCO
2010-01-01

Abstract

Traditional bioreactors for tissue engineering offer interesting perspectives to study cell growth, however the co-existence of many macro-scale governing factors has not lead to robust results yet. Microfluidics represents an alternative approach to overcome such limitations. This work introduces a simple method of embedding conductive and flexible material within microfluidic devices as a means to realize microscale bioreactors for cell electrical stimulation. Thanks the proposed technology, three dimensional electrodes can be simply achieved. Advantages with the respect to expensive 3D electrode fabrication methods rely on the dramatic cost and complexity reduction, and the ability to obtain flexible electrodes (thus allowing for a combination of electro-mechanical stimulation). To validate this technology we designed and tested a microscale cell culture system with injected electrodes made of a mixture of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and PDMS. Microbioreactor devices realized with this technology were used and tested in terms of electrical activity and toxicity to cells. Over 7 days of H9c2 cell cultures were achieved under continuous electrical stimulation (bifasic, 1Hz, ±1.5mV). Cells were assessed with LIVE/DEAD and MTT assays showing no evidences of sufferance.
2010
9782906831858
Flexible electrodes; microfluidics; cardiomyocytes; tissue engineering; electrical stimulation.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11311/574883
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