Micro-incubation systems for microfluidic cell culture and methods

1. A microfluidic cell culture system comprising:

at least one culture unit configured on a culture plate comprising:

a microfluidic culture chamber;

a perfusion barrier separating said microfluidic culture chamber from one or more medium flow channels;

a plurality of independent inlet channels in fluid communication with said one or more medium flow channels;

and

an outlet reservoir in fluid communication with said microfluidic culture chamber; and

a pneumatic manifold;

wherein the culture plate is positively sealed to said pneumatic manifold, allowing pressure driven control of the plurality of independent inlet channels so that solutions can be quickly changed over the cells or can be multiplexed or combined in the microfluidic culture chamber;

wherein said pneumatic manifold further comprises a heat exchange module for providing a circulating heat controlled gas in a contained gas volume over said microfluidic culture chamber.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said perfusion barrier is used to reduce flow pressure from said inlet channels to said microfluidic culture chamber.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said perfusion barrier is used to contain a gel media to said microfluidic culture chamber.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said perfusion barrier mostly surrounds the microfluidic culture chamber to separate the microfluidic culture chamber from the one or more medium flow channels.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an automatic handling system for sealing the pneumatic manifold to the microfluidic culture plate comprising:

a pneumatic linear actuator cylinder;

one or more position sensors;

two arms for holding the manifold from the sides, without blocking a view through the top of the manifold;

a plate carriage and plate grippers for holding the culture plate;

said system configured so that movement of the cylinder causes the plate carriage to move horizontally to a position under said manifold;

said system configured so that movement of the cylinder causes the manifold to descend onto the plate.

6. The system of claim 5 further wherein: the cylinder is attached to the arms so that the cylinder provides both horizontal and vertical motion.

7. The system of claim 5 further wherein: said positive seal between the manifold and microfluidic culture plate is accomplished by applying vacuum through the manifold to the interstitial areas of the microfluidic culture plate while the necessary initial downward force is applied mechanically.

8. The microfluidic cell culture system of claim 1 , further comprising a medium well in fluid communication with said one or more medium flow channels.

9. The microfluidic cell culture system of claim 8 , wherein said medium well is a gravity perfusion well.

10. The microfluidic culture system of claim 1 , further comprising a cell inlet in fluid communication with said culture chamber.

11. The microfluidic cell culture system of claim 1 , further comprising a gas circulation region formed by the positive seal of said pneumatic manifold to said microfluidic culture plate.

12. The microfluidic cell culture system of claim 11 wherein said heat exchange module further comprises a fan to circulate gas within said gas circulation region.

13. The microfluidic cell culture system of claim 1 , wherein said heat exchange module comprises a convective heat exchanger.

14. The microfluidic cell culture system of claim 13 , wherein said convective heat exchanger comprises heat exchange fins.

15. The microfluidic cell culture system of claim 14 , wherein said heat exchange module further comprises a fan to circulate air over said heat exchange fins.

16. The microfluidic cell culture system of claim 1 , wherein said pneumatic manifold further comprises a gas input.