Microfluidic Bio-Reactor with Gas Permeable Air-Bubble Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional microfluidic devices for cell culture face issues such as uneven cell distribution, air-bubble formation, and inadequate nutrient supply, which affect cell growth and differentiation, and are not suitable for mass production due to limited culture chamber size or excessive device volume.
Innovation Solution
A microfluidic bio-reactor device with an open-cover design achieved through negative pressure, featuring a microfluidic base with channels and holes, a gas-permeable layer for air-bubble removal, and a vacuum channel to ensure homogeneous cell distribution and long-term culture, utilizing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and glass components for the cell culture layers and roof, respectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cells are injected through seeding microchannels, then cells can be delivered into the culture chamber, but uneven cell distribution occurs which affects cellular interaction and differentiation
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the culture chamber into multiple regions with different functions: a culture chamber for cell growth, a waste chamber for removing unhealthy cells and air bubbles, and a seeding channel for cell introduction. This segmentation allows cells to be delivered efficiently while maintaining uniform distribution in the culture chamber by separating the delivery pathway from the growth area.
Solution Approach 2:
A gas permeable layer is introduced as an intermediary component between the culture chamber and waste chamber. This layer allows air bubbles to pass through while retaining cells, enabling the removal of harmful air bubbles without affecting cell distribution or growth in the culture chamber.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the device is sealed for long-term culture, then cell culture can be maintained, but air bubbles cannot be removed which affects cell growth
Solution Approach 1:
A gas permeable layer is introduced as an intermediary component between the culture chamber and waste chamber. This layer allows air bubbles to pass through while retaining cells, enabling the removal of harmful air bubbles without affecting cell distribution or growth in the culture chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The device extracts air bubbles from the culture system by directing them through the gas permeable layer into the waste chamber, where they can be removed. This extraction process maintains the sealed environment for long-term culture while eliminating harmful air bubbles that would otherwise affect cell growth.
3Productivity
If the culture chamber area is increased for mass production, then cell production capacity improves, but device volume becomes too large
Solution Approach 1:
The device utilizes vertical stacking to create multiple culture chambers above and below the main culture chamber. This dimensional expansion allows increased cell production capacity without proportionally increasing the device's footprint area, maintaining a compact form factor while enhancing productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple culture chambers are nested within a compact device structure, with chambers positioned at different vertical levels. This nesting arrangement maximizes the use of three-dimensional space, allowing large total culture area while maintaining a small overall device volume suitable for mass production applications.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device enables rapid and uniform cell growth, prevents air-bubble formation, and supports large-scale cell culture, maintaining cell properties and allowing for easy removal of unhealthy cells, thereby facilitating efficient stem cell culture and mass production.
Implementation Method 1
a gas permeable layer, wherein the first end of the air-bubble removal device is connected to the gas permeable layer
Implementation Method 2
an air-bubble removal device, which is a vacuum channel, having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the air-bubble removal device is connected to the gas permeable layer and the second end of the air-bubble removal device is connected to a vacuum opening
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a microfluidic bio-reactor device, which comprises: a first cell culture layer; a microfluidic base, which is located on the top of the first cell culture layer; a microfluidic layer, which is located on the top of the microfluidic base and have an air-bubble removal device; a microfluidic roof, which is located on the top of the microfluidic layer; the present invention also provides a method for culturing cells by the microfluidic bio-reactor device of the present invention and the kit with a cell-loading device and present microfluidic bio-reactor device.