Analytical Sciences

An Easy-to-Use Polystyrene Microchip-based Cell Culture System

Hidekatsu TAZAWA,*1 Shohei SUNAOSHI,*2 Manabu TOKESHI,*3,*4 Takehiko KITAMORI,*1,*5 and Ritsuko OHTANI-KANEKO*2,*6

*1 Institute of Microchemical Technology Co., Ltd., 207 East KSP, 3-2-1 Sakado, Takatsu, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 213-0012, Japan
*2 Department of Life Sciences, Toyo University, 1-1-1 Itakura, Oura, Gunma 374-0193, Japan
*3 Division of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Kita 13 Nishi 8, Kita, Sapporo 060-8628, Japan
*4 ImPACT Research Center for Advanced Nanobiodevices, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan
*5 Department of Applied Chemistry, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
*6 Bio-Nano Electronic Research Centre, Toyo University, 2100 Kujirai, Kawagoe, Saitama 350-8585, Japan

In this study, we developed an integrated, low-cost microfluidic cell culture system that is easy to use. This system consists of a disposable polystyrene microchip, a polytetrafluoroethylene valve, an air bubble trap, and an indium tin oxide temperature controller. Valve pressure resistance was validated with a manometer to be 3 MPa. The trap protected against bubble contamination. The temperature controller enabled the culture of Macaca mulatta RF/6A 135 vascular endothelial cells, which are difficult to culture in glass microchips, without a CO₂ incubator. We determined the optimal coating conditions for these cells and were able to achieve stable, confluent culture within 1 week. This practical system is suitable for low-cost screening and has potential applications as circulatory cell culture systems and research platforms in cell biology.

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