Microfluidic platform for controlling and configuring the spatial and temporal evolution of a gradient in a microfluidic environment
A microfluidic platform is provided for controlling and configuring the evolution of a gradient. The microfluidic platform includes a plate having an outer surface and defining a chamber therein for receiving cells and/or drug/reagent particles of interest captured within a polymerized material. A plurality of wells are adapted for receiving a one or more types of desired media to form gradients in the polymerized material. The plurality of wells have first portions communicating with the outer surface of the plate and second portions communicating with the chamber. The first and second portions of the plurality of wells having corresponding widths and cross-sectional areas, and each of the plurality of wells is spaced from an adjacent well of the plurality of wells by a distance. The cross-sectional areas of the first portions of the plurality of wells are greater than the cross-sectional areas of the second portions of the plurality of wells such that the second portions of the plurality of wells form pinning valves to maintain the material to be polymer.
1 . A microfluidic platform for controlling and configuring an evolution of a gradient, the microfluidic platform comprising:
a plate having a plate outer surface and defining a chamber in the plate; and
a plurality of wells including at least four or more wells arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns;
wherein:
each well of the plurality of wells has a first portion and a second portion;
the first portion has a first width and a first cross-sectional area and is in fluidic communication with the plate outer surface;
the second portion has a second width and a second cross-sectional area and is in fluidic communication with the chamber;
each well is spaced from an adjacent well by a predetermined distance;
the first cross-sectional area is greater than the second cross-sectional area; and
the chamber is unitary and has a chamber length and a chamber width sized to overlap the second portion of each well such that the chamber fluidly communicates with the second portion of each well.
2 . The microfluidic platform of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of wells includes a corresponding pinning valve at the second portion of a corresponding well, the corresponding pinning valves configured to prevent material within the chamber from flowing into the corresponding wells.
3 . The microfluidic platform of claim 1 wherein the second width is between 1 and 4 millimeters.
4 . The microfluidic platform of claim 3 wherein the second width is 1.8 millimeters.
5 . The microfluidic platform of claim 1 wherein the chamber has a chamber height between 50 and 900 micrometers.
6 . The microfluidic platform of claim 5 wherein the chamber height is 250 micrometers.
7 . The microfluidic platform of claim 1 wherein the predetermined distance is between 0.1 and 5.6 millimeters.
8 . The microfluidic platform of claim 7 wherein the predetermined distance is between 4.5 and 5.6 millimeters.
9 . The microfluidic platform of claim 1 further comprising a polymer in the chamber formed from a solution including a hydrogel and a plurality of biological cells polymerized within the chamber.