Cell culture device and methods of use thereof

1. A tissue culture device comprising:

a microfluidic layer including at least one hydrophobic microchannel;

an inlet in fluid communication with the at least one hydrophobic microchannel;

an outlet in fluid communication with the at least one hydrophobic microchannel; and

a reservoir portion over the at least one hydrophobic microchannel, the reservoir portion including an opening aligned with an uncovered portion of the at least one hydrophobic microchannel;

wherein the at least one hydrophobic microchannel prevents a solution in the opening of the reservoir portion from filling the at least one hydrophobic microchannel through the uncovered portion;

wherein the inlet and the outlet provide fluid flow into and out of the at least one hydrophobic microchannel without passing through the opening; and

wherein, when a material is present in the opening, a fluid introduced to the inlet flows through the at least one hydrophobic microchannel and directly contacts the material before exiting through the outlet.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one hydrophobic microchannel comprises a Cassie-Baxter mode surface.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one hydrophobic microchannel comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polystyrene, surface-treated glass, and combinations thereof.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one hydrophobic microchannel comprises a surface treated surface.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the surface treated surface comprises increased surface roughness.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one hydrophobic microchannel comprises a feature height (h) that is greater than the minimum feature height for sustaining Cassie-Baxter mode (h crit );

wherein h crit is defined as

h

crit

=

-

b

2

⁢

(

cos

⁢

⁢

θ

e

+

1

cos

⁢

⁢

θ

e

)

;

wherein b is the width of cavities in the at least one hydrophobic microchannel; and

wherein θ e is the angle of contact between the at least one hydrophobic microchannel and a liquid in the reservoir portion.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir portion comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polystyrene, surface-treated glass, and combinations thereof.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir portion and the at least one hydrophobic microchannel comprise the same material.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir portion and the at least one hydrophobic microchannel comprise different materials.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is devoid of any material separating the uncovered portion of the at least one hydrophobic microchannel from the opening in the reservoir portion.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one hydrophobic microchannel comprises multiple hydrophobic microchannels.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein a shape and geometry of the hydrophobic microchannels mimics the shape and geometry of blood vessels in a capillary network.

13. A method of culturing tissue, the method comprising:

providing the device of claim 1 ;

introducing a cell solution into the opening in the reservoir portion;

solidifying the cell solution in the reservoir portion;

positioning a removable lid over the opening in the reservoir portion; and

providing a flow of fluid through at least one hydrophobic microchannel;

wherein the at least one hydrophobic microchannel prevents the cell solution from flooding the at least one hydrophobic microchannel during the introducing step.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the fluid comprises cell culture media.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the cell culture media flowing through the at least one hydrophobic microchannel is in direct contact with the cell solution.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the direct contact provides diffusion-based solute exchange between the cell culture media and the cell solution.