DEVELOPMENT AND UTILIZATION OF MICROFLUIDIC TRAP (TRYPSIN-BASED RECOVERY AFTER PERMEATION)
Migratory cells in vivo encounter various confining microenvironments throughout the body. In vitro studies of confined migration often use PDMS microchannel devices, but these limit cell extraction for further downstream analysis. Mechanically preconditioning cells with confinement influences their behavior and function, making cell collection useful for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. To overcome these challenges, we developed TRAP chips, which incorporate open-microfluidic microchannel confinement devices with a modification to enhance cell recovery. The TRAP chip design includes an uncovered region at the end of each microchannel array for collecting cells, allowing for the collection of up to 500 cells per chip. The TRAP chip maintains cell viability and integrity, enabling their use in functional assays and biochemical analyses such as western blot, qPCR, and flow cytometry. It provides valuable insights into cellular behaviors and responses as a function of confinement, enhancing our understanding of cell dynamics in confined environments.
Transcriptional Changes, Cell Migration, Confinement, Microfluidics
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