Self-loading and cell culture in one layer microfluidic devices.

We report on a simple method for self loading and culture of mammalian cells in microfluidic multi-chambers for high throughput screening. The device was obtained by using one layer soft lithography with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and thermal bonding on a glass slide. Self loading of cell suspension could be possible after degassing of the PDMS device for 30 min. Both cell loading efficiency and cell proliferation behaviors have been analyzed with triangle chambers of different sizes, all connected to the main flow channels with small entrances. We found that the number of cells loaded into the micro-chamber increased with the side length of the triangle, showing well size dependence and that self loading at a single cell level was possible for small chambers. For large chambers, the cell area density after loading and proliferation is however quite heterogeneous. For demonstration, HeLa cell growth behavior has been followed for 11 days until the total area of the largest chambers was fully filled.