Nerve and heart co-culture micro-fluidic chip culture box
By designing a microfluidic chip culture box for neural heart co-culture, the precise nutrition and drug supply of heart and nerve cells are achieved, the problem of simulating the interaction between heart and nerve cells in the prior art is solved, and the research efficiency of disease models and drug screening effect is improved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202422362699.8
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-09-27
- Publication Date
- 2025-08-15
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-09-27
AI Technical Summary
The prior art is difficult to simulate the interaction between the heart and nerve cells in the body, and it is difficult to perform fine environmental control, such as the regulation of fluid mechanics conditions and chemical gradients, limiting the application of disease models and drug screening.
A neurocardiac co-culture microfluidic chip culture box was designed, which includes a nutrient solution supply system, a medicine solution supply system and a waste solution recovery system. The heart cell culture area and the nerve cell culture area are connected through a controllable microflower to achieve precise nutrition and drug supply, and the interaction between cells is controlled through valves.
More accurately simulates the interaction between the heart and nerve cells, improves the research efficiency and quality of heart disease and neurological disease models, and can be used for high-throughput drug screening and shortens the process of new drug development.
Smart Images
Figure CN223226087U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of cell co-culture, in particular to a neural heart co-culture microfluidic chip culture box. Background Art
[0002] Existing technologies primarily use traditional culture media and culture plates to co-culture cardiac and neural cells. This approach struggles to mimic the in vivo interactions and microenvironment of the heart and nervous system. Furthermore, traditional culture techniques struggle with precise environmental control, such as precise regulation of fluid dynamics and chemical gradients, which limits their application in disease modeling and drug screening. Utility Model Content
[0003] The main purpose of the utility model is to provide a neural heart co-culture microfluidic chip culture box to solve the above problems.
[0004] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention provides a neural heart co-culture microfluidic chip culture box, comprising a box body and a box cover, wherein the box body is provided with a nutrient solution supply system, a drug solution supply system, a microfluidic chip and a waste liquid recovery system, the microfluidic chip is provided with a heart cell culture area and a nerve cell culture area, and the heart cell culture area and the nerve cell culture area are connected by a controllable microchannel; the nutrient solution supply system is used to provide nutrient solution to the heart cell culture area and the nerve cell culture area, the drug solution supply system is used to provide drug solution to the heart cell culture area and the nerve cell culture area, and the waste liquid recovery system is used to collect waste liquid from the heart cell culture area and the nerve cell culture area.
[0005] Furthermore, the microfluidic chip includes a base layer and a cover layer, and a first main microchannel, a first sub-microchannel, a second main microchannel and a second sub-microchannel are arranged on the base layer; the first main microchannel is connected to the first sub-microchannel, and the second main microchannel is connected to the second sub-microchannel, and the cardiac cell culture area and the nerve cell culture area are respectively arranged on the first main microchannel and the second main microchannel; the cover layer is provided with a first liquid injection port connected to the head end of the first main microchannel, a second liquid injection port connected to the head end of the first sub-microchannel, a third liquid injection port connected to the head end of the second sub-microchannel, a fourth liquid injection port connected to the head end of the second main microchannel, a first liquid discharge port connected to the tail end of the first main microchannel, and a second liquid discharge port connected to the tail end of the second main microchannel.
[0006] Furthermore, a first valve for controlling the opening and closing of the controllable microchannel is provided on the cover layer.
[0007] Furthermore, a first fusion zone is provided at the junction of the first main microchannel and the first sub-microchannel; and a second fusion zone is provided at the junction of the second main microchannel and the second sub-microchannel.
[0008] Furthermore, the nutrient solution supply system includes a nutrient solution tank, a first pump, a fourth pump, a first liquid inlet pipe and a fourth liquid inlet pipe; the nutrient solution tank is connected to the first liquid injection port through the first pump and the first liquid inlet pipe in sequence, and the nutrient solution tank is connected to the fourth liquid injection port through the fourth pump and the fourth liquid inlet pipe in sequence.
[0009] Furthermore, the medicine liquid supply system includes a medicine tank, a second pump, a third pump, a second liquid inlet pipe and a third liquid inlet pipe; the medicine tank is connected to the second liquid injection port through the second pump and the second liquid inlet pipe in sequence, and the medicine tank is connected to the third liquid injection port through the third pump and the third liquid inlet pipe in sequence.
[0010] Furthermore, the waste liquid recovery system includes a waste liquid tank, a first drain pipe and a second drain pipe; the waste liquid tank is connected to the first drain port through the first drain pipe, and the waste liquid tank is connected to the second drain port through the second drain pipe.
[0011] Furthermore, there are two nutrient solution tanks, which are connected to the first pump and the fourth pump respectively; and there are two medicine tanks, which are connected to the second pump and the third pump respectively.
[0012] Furthermore, a second valve is provided on each of the first liquid inlet pipe, the second liquid inlet pipe, the third liquid inlet pipe, the fourth liquid inlet pipe, the first liquid discharge pipe and the second liquid discharge pipe.
[0013] Furthermore, the box cover is provided with injection and drainage holes corresponding to the nutrient solution tank, the medicine tank and the waste liquid tank one by one, and the injection and drainage holes are provided with sealing plugs.
[0014] The utility model has the following beneficial effects:
[0015] The utility model can more accurately simulate the interaction between heart and nerve cells in the body, improving the research efficiency and quality of heart disease models and neurological disease models; in addition, the culture box can be used for high-throughput drug screening to accelerate the process of new drug development. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] Figure 1 This is an overall schematic diagram of a neural-heart co-culture microfluidic chip culture box proposed in the present invention;
[0017] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of a neuro-heart co-culture microfluidic chip culture box proposed in the present invention;
[0018] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of the microfluidic chip in the neural-heart co-culture microfluidic chip culture box proposed in the present invention.
[0019] In the figure: 1-box body; 2-box cover; 3-microfluidic chip; 11-nutrient solution tank; 12-drug tank; 13-limiting tank; 14-waste liquid tank; 21-observation window; 22-sealing plug; 31-base layer; 32-cover plate layer; 41-first pump; 42-second pump; 43-third pump; 44-fourth pump; 51-first liquid inlet pipe; 52-second liquid inlet pipe; 53-third liquid inlet pipe; 54-fourth liquid inlet pipe; 55-first liquid discharge pipe; 56-second liquid discharge pipe; 57-second valve; 3 11-first main microfluidic channel; 312-first secondary microfluidic channel; 313-first fusion zone; 314-cardiac cell culture zone; 315-second main microfluidic channel; 316-second secondary microfluidic channel; 317-second fusion zone; 318-neuronal cell culture zone; 319-controllable microfluidic channel; 321-first liquid injection port; 322-second liquid injection port; 323-third liquid injection port; 324-fourth liquid injection port; 325-first liquid discharge port; 326-second liquid discharge port; 327-first valve. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose and effect, the technical means and structure adopted by the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings for the features and functions of the preferred embodiments of the present invention.
[0021] like Figure 1-Figure 3 As shown, the present invention provides a neuro-cardiac co-culture microfluidic chip culture box, comprising a box body 1 and a box cover 2, wherein the box body 1 is provided with a nutrient solution supply system, a drug solution supply system, a microfluidic chip 3 and a waste liquid recovery system, and the microfluidic chip 3 is provided with a heart cell culture area 314 and a nerve cell culture area 318, and the heart cell culture area 314 and the nerve cell culture area 318 are connected by a controllable microchannel 319; the nutrient solution supply system is used to provide nutrient solution to the heart cell culture area 314 and the nerve cell culture area 318, the drug solution supply system is used to provide drug solution to the heart cell culture area 314 and the nerve cell culture area 318, and the waste liquid recovery system is used to collect waste liquid from the heart cell culture area 314 and the nerve cell culture area 318.
[0022] The microfluidic chip 3 includes a base layer 31 and a cover layer 32. The base layer 31 is provided with a first main microchannel 311, a first sub-microchannel 312, a second main microchannel 315 and a second sub-microchannel 316; the first main microchannel 311 is connected to the first sub-microchannel 312, the second main microchannel 315 is connected to the second sub-microchannel 316, and the cardiac cell culture area 314 and the neural cell culture area 318 are respectively provided on the first main microchannel 311 and the second main microchannel. channel 315; the cover layer 32 is provided with a first liquid injection port 321 connected to the head end of the first main microchannel 311, a second liquid injection port 322 connected to the head end of the first sub-microchannel 312, a third liquid injection port 323 connected to the head end of the second sub-microchannel 316, a fourth liquid injection port 324 connected to the head end of the second main microchannel 315, a first liquid discharge port 325 connected to the tail end of the first main microchannel 311, and a second liquid discharge port 326 connected to the tail end of the second main microchannel 315.
[0023] The cover layer 32 is provided with a first valve 327 for controlling the opening and closing of the controllable microfluidic channel 319. By closing the first valve 327, cardiac cells and neural cells can be cultured separately. By opening the first valve 327, the cardiac cell culture area 314 and the neural cell culture area 318 are connected through the controllable microfluidic channel 319, enabling interaction between the cardiac cells and the neural cells.
[0024] A first fusion zone 313 is provided at the junction of the first main microchannel 311 and the first secondary microchannel 312, and a second fusion zone 317 is provided at the junction of the second main microchannel 315 and the second secondary microchannel 316. The fusion zone allows for early drug fusion, resulting in a more uniform concentration and preventing overreaction in cells.
[0025] The nutrient solution supply system includes a nutrient solution tank 11, a first pump 41, a fourth pump 44, a first liquid inlet pipe 51, and a fourth liquid inlet pipe 54. The nutrient solution tank 11 is sequentially connected to the first liquid inlet 321 via the first pump 41 and the first liquid inlet pipe 51, and is sequentially connected to the fourth liquid inlet 324 via the fourth pump 44 and the fourth liquid inlet pipe 54. The nutrient solution in the nutrient solution tank 11 is pumped into the first liquid inlet 321 of the microfluidic chip 3 by the first pump 41, and then into the heart cell culture area 314 through the first main microchannel 311, thereby providing nutrient solution for the heart cells. The nutrient solution in the nutrient solution tank 11 is pumped into the fourth liquid inlet 324 of the microfluidic chip 3 by the fourth pump 44, and then into the neural cell culture area 318 through the second main microchannel 315, thereby providing nutrient solution for the neural cells. As a preferred embodiment, two nutrient solution tanks 11 are provided, which are connected to the first pump 41 and the fourth pump 44 respectively, so as to provide different nutrient solutions for the cardiac cell culture area 314 and the neural cell culture area 318 .
[0026] The drug liquid supply system includes a drug tank 12, a second pump 42, a third pump 43, a second liquid inlet pipe 52, and a third liquid inlet pipe 53. The drug tank 12 is sequentially connected to the second liquid injection port 322 via the second pump 42 and the second liquid inlet pipe 52, and the drug tank 12 is sequentially connected to the third liquid injection port 323 via the third pump 43 and the third liquid inlet pipe 53. The drug liquid in the drug tank 12 is pumped into the second liquid injection port 322 of the microfluidic chip 3 by the second pump 42, enters the first fusion zone 313 through the first secondary microchannel 312, and mixes with the nutrient solution. The mixed liquid then enters the cardiac cell culture zone 314 through the first main microchannel 311. The drug liquid in the drug tank 12 is pumped into the third liquid injection port 323 of the microfluidic chip 3 by the third pump 43, enters the second fusion zone 317 through the second secondary microchannel 316, and mixes with the nutrient solution. The mixed liquid then enters the neural cell culture zone 318 through the second main microchannel 315. As a preferred embodiment, two medicine tanks 12 are provided, which are connected to the second pump 42 and the third pump 43 respectively, so as to provide different medicine solutions to the cardiac cell culture area 314 and the neural cell culture area 318 .
[0027] The first pump 41 , the second pump 42 , the third pump 43 and the fourth pump 44 can precisely control the flow rate of the fluid to achieve independent regulation of the nutrient and drug concentrations of the two cell types.
[0028] The waste liquid recovery system includes a waste liquid tank 14 , a first drain pipe 55 and a second drain pipe 56 ; the waste liquid tank 14 is connected to the first drain port 325 via the first drain pipe 55 , and the waste liquid tank 14 is connected to the second drain port 326 via the second drain pipe 56 .
[0029] The first liquid inlet pipe 51 , the second liquid inlet pipe 52 , the third liquid inlet pipe 53 , the fourth liquid inlet pipe 54 , the first liquid discharge pipe 55 and the second liquid discharge pipe 56 are all provided with second valves 57 , and the liquid flow direction is controlled by opening and closing different second valves 57 .
[0030] The box cover 2 is provided with injection and drainage holes corresponding to the nutrient solution tank 11, the medicine tank 12 and the waste liquid tank 14 one by one, so as to facilitate injection or drainage, and the injection and drainage holes are provided with sealing plugs 22.
[0031] The box body 1 is provided with a limiting groove 13 , and the microfluidic chip 3 is installed in the limiting groove 13 . The box cover 2 is provided with an observation window 21 for observing the culture status of the microfluidic chip 3 .
[0032] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, not all embodiments. Anyone should be aware that any structural changes made under the inspiration of the present invention, and any technical solutions that are the same or similar to those of the present invention, fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.
Claims
1. A neuro-heart co-culture microfluidic chip culture box, characterized in that: The box body comprises a box body and a box cover. A nutrient solution supply system, a drug solution supply system, a microfluidic chip and a waste liquid recovery system are arranged in the box body. A cardiac cell culture area and a nerve cell culture area are arranged on the microfluidic chip. The cardiac cell culture area and the nerve cell culture area are connected by a controllable microchannel. The nutrient solution supply system is used to provide nutrient solution to the cardiac cell culture area and the nerve cell culture area, the drug solution supply system is used to provide drug solution to the cardiac cell culture area and the nerve cell culture area, and the waste liquid recovery system is used to collect waste liquid from the cardiac cell culture area and the nerve cell culture area.
2. A neuro-cardiac co-culture microfluidic chip culture box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The microfluidic chip includes a base layer and a cover layer, and a first main microchannel, a first sub-microchannel, a second main microchannel and a second sub-microchannel are arranged on the base layer; the first main microchannel is connected to the first sub-microchannel, and the second main microchannel is connected to the second sub-microchannel, and the cardiac cell culture area and the nerve cell culture area are respectively arranged on the first main microchannel and the second main microchannel; the cover layer is provided with a first liquid injection port connected to the head end of the first main microchannel, a second liquid injection port connected to the head end of the first sub-microchannel, a third liquid injection port connected to the head end of the second sub-microchannel, a fourth liquid injection port connected to the head end of the second main microchannel, a first liquid discharge port connected to the tail end of the first main microchannel, and a second liquid discharge port connected to the tail end of the second main microchannel.
3. A neuro-cardiac co-culture microfluidic chip culture box according to claim 2, characterized in that: The cover layer is provided with a first valve for controlling the opening and closing of the controllable microchannel.
4. A neuro-heart co-culture microfluidic chip culture box according to claim 2, characterized in that: A first fusion zone is provided at the junction of the first main microchannel and the first sub-microchannel; a second fusion zone is provided at the junction of the second main microchannel and the second sub-microchannel.
5. A neuro-cardiac co-culture microfluidic chip culture box according to claim 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that: The nutrient solution supply system includes a nutrient solution tank, a first pump, a fourth pump, a first liquid inlet pipe and a fourth liquid inlet pipe; the nutrient solution tank is connected to the first liquid injection port through the first pump and the first liquid inlet pipe in sequence, and the nutrient solution tank is connected to the fourth liquid injection port through the fourth pump and the fourth liquid inlet pipe in sequence.
6. The neuro-cardiac co-culture microfluidic chip culture box according to claim 5, characterized in that: The medicine liquid supply system includes a medicine tank, a second pump, a third pump, a second liquid inlet pipe and a third liquid inlet pipe; the medicine tank is connected to the second liquid injection port through the second pump and the second liquid inlet pipe in sequence, and the medicine tank is connected to the third liquid injection port through the third pump and the third liquid inlet pipe in sequence.
7. The neuro-cardiac co-culture microfluidic chip culture box according to claim 6, characterized in that: The waste liquid recovery system includes a waste liquid tank, a first drain pipe and a second drain pipe; the waste liquid tank is connected to a first drain port through the first drain pipe, and the waste liquid tank is connected to a second drain port through the second drain pipe.
8. The neuro-cardiac co-culture microfluidic chip culture box according to claim 7, characterized in that: There are two nutrient solution tanks, which are connected to the first pump and the fourth pump respectively; there are two medicine tanks, which are connected to the second pump and the third pump respectively.
9. The neuro-cardiac co-culture microfluidic chip culture box according to claim 7, characterized in that: The first liquid inlet pipe, the second liquid inlet pipe, the third liquid inlet pipe, the fourth liquid inlet pipe, the first liquid discharge pipe and the second liquid discharge pipe are all provided with a second valve.
10. The neuro-cardiac co-culture microfluidic chip culture box according to claim 7, characterized in that: The box cover is provided with injection and drainage holes corresponding to the nutrient solution tank, the medicine tank and the waste liquid tank one by one, and the injection and drainage holes are provided with sealing plugs.