Microfluidic Cell Culture Traps for High-Throughput Harvesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cell culture methods using dishes and bioreactors are inefficient, costly, and prone to contamination, with limited throughput and control over cell environment, and existing microfluidic systems are not suitable for high-throughput cell production or controlled harvesting.
Innovation Solution
A cell culture device with a fluidic channel and recesses/traps that capture and sediment cells efficiently, allowing for high-throughput cell culture, expansion, and controlled harvesting without external transport, using a horizontal support and specific flow rates for seeding, expansion, washing, and harvesting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional cell culture dishes are used, then cell culture can be performed, but throughput is limited and contamination risk increases due to handling between multiple dishes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple cell culture operations (seeding, expansion, harvesting) into a single bioreactor system with microfluidic channels, eliminating the need to transfer cells between multiple dishes. This merging of operations maintains high throughput while reducing contamination risk by minimizing external handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The bioreactor system performs multiple functions within a single device: cell seeding, culture expansion, medium exchange, and harvesting. This multi-functional design increases productivity while maintaining reliability by keeping cells contained throughout the entire culture process.
2Productivity
If multiple cell culture dishes are used for expansion, then cell density can be maintained, but handling complexity increases and contamination risk rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple culture well functions into a single integrated bioreactor with internal microfluidic channels that can accommodate multiple culture conditions simultaneously. This eliminates the need for multiple separate dishes while maintaining expansion capacity and reducing handling complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional bioreactors are used, then cell culture can be scaled, but control over cell environment is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs microfluidic hydraulic control within the bioreactor to precisely regulate medium flow, nutrient delivery, and waste removal. This microfluidic approach provides fine-tuned environmental control while maintaining high cell production throughput through efficient fluid management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables dynamic adjustment of culture parameters (flow rate, medium composition, oxygen levels) through microfluidic control mechanisms, allowing precise optimization of cell environment for different culture stages while maintaining high productivity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If existing microfluidic systems are used, then cell culture control is improved, but harvesting capability is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The bioreactor system integrates harvesting functionality alongside culture and expansion capabilities. The microfluidic architecture enables controlled cell release and collection without compromising the system's cell production throughput or environmental control features.
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
Enables efficient, high-throughput cell culture and harvesting with reduced contamination risk, enabling production of large cell quantities suitable for cell therapy applications.
Implementation Method 1
a cell trap, said cell trap being configured to capture a cell advected in the fluidic channel and then to make the cell sediment to the bottom surface of the recess
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a cell culture device comprising at least a fluidic channel having at least a cell medium inlet and a cell medium outlet, said fluidic channel comprising a lower wall extending between the cell medium inlet and the cell medium outlet, the cell culture device further comprising at least one recess configured to receive a plurality of cells, said recess being formed by the lower wall and defining a bottom surface, and at least a cell trap, said cell trap being configured to capture a cell advected in the fluidic channel and then to make the cell sediment to the bottom surface of the recess.