Hi, I'm trying to accomotadate myself using a custom made microfluidic device which is consist of channels of varying diameters (100, 20, 10, 6 and 4 micrometers). I'm planning to pass down cells through the channels and as I make optimizations I first pass down normal saline solution. How do you suggest that I clean the channels after I pass the solutions. As I have experienced the channels that are not cleaned after the passing of saline or even distilled water, could not be used afterwards as they clogged.
Try using 1X PBS solution instead of saline or distilled water. After using 1X PBS solution, just pass down the cells. The PBS will not harm the cell growth. Make sure, after the cells adhere to the channels (about 2 hrs later), the channels do not go dry. You can set up dynamic flow after 6-12 hours of seeding cells.
Thanks, sorry if I wasn't clear before; I pass the cells through the channels to observe the flow dynamics of the cells. So cells won't be adhering to channels. I intend to clean the channels afterwards that there won't be any cell remanants or dried salts from the saline or PBS solutions.
Or you can simply flow 70% ethanol in the microchannels. Another option is to expose the chips to UV light for 20 mins. But these steps will eventually lead to clogging of microchannels, as drying of microchannels results in air bubbles that would eventually lead to clogging. Prevent the channels from going dry, and it will solve your clogging problem.