Hello everyone.
We have cultured MCF-7 cancer cells in microfluidics several times and incubated them for 24 hours, but as the nanomaterial passed through the cells, the cells moved and no cell remained in the canals. How can cell adhesion be increased?
Can cells be washed with distilled water instead of phosphate buffer solution (1x)?
Hi,
I do not have experience in growing cells on microfluridic surface so Im cant help you with an expert advice on that.
Usually cells will adhere in the 6-12 h after seeding if the surface is compatible and if they do not adhere in 24 h they will initiate apoptosis. Can you change the geometry of your surface to allow cells to adhere more easily?
You shouldn't wash cells in distilled water because you will cause osmotic shock and cells will initiate apoptosis. PBS should be used or a solution of similar osmotic value
I have once used a fibroblast cell in microfluidic surface and from my experience your answer really depends on two things
1. What's the channel surface material made up of? Is it positively charged?
2. Have you used a coating of proteins/amino acids/hydrogel/ gelatin. These materials support cell adhesion and is needed for proper adhesion.
If these criterias do not fulfil resulting in weak adhesion, the cells will easily be uprooted when the fluid will flow in the channels giving you false or undesirable results.
Hope it helps.
Cell adhesion for normal cells usually takes from a few minutes to a couple of hours. Importantly, DO NOT wash cells with water, they need a buffered solution, or you will instantly kill them. I would ask the following questions:
What is your device made of? Do you use any chemical treatments during fabrication? Glutaraldehyde or alcohols would definitely impact cell adhesion and viability. You would need to check your procedure, thoroughly wash after treating with organic chemicals and dry your device well.
I would probably not worry so much about protein coatings, since most cell lines can adhere virtually to any surface. It can however be useful to do an oxygen plasma treatment, as most PDMS devices require anyway for construction.
Best of luck
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