Microfabrication methods for the study of chemotaxis

We have developed a system for studying chemotaxis in a microfabricated system. The goal was to develop a system capable of generating spatially and temporally stable concentration gradients of a chemotactic molecule while providing a viable environment for the cell. Numerical models were generated to investigate fluid flow in microchannels for given geometries. Through computational modeling and experimentally-driven iteration of the design, features of the chamber were determined and geometry was established. Prototypes of the system were fabricated using soft lithography and multi-layer soft lithography techniques. Three fluid delivery methods for establishing gradients in the system have been studied: gravity feed system, dual-syringe pump feed system, and integrated individually-controlled peristaltic pump feed system. We were able to create spatially and temporally stable gradients using the dual-syringe feed setup. Two syringes were used to pump a chemokine and a buffer in parallel channels that are connected by a cross-channel and terminated to a single output. Microbeads in the flow were used to confirm the lack of movement in the cross-channel. Human neutrophil viability over the course of several hours and directed cell movement was demonstrated in microchannels.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2004

Author dc:creator

• Shur, Maiya, 1980-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• C. Forbes Dewey, Jr.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/27130

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/27130