Evaluation of cell culture in microfluidic chips for application in monoclonal antibody production

• Published in: Microelectronic engineering Vol. 158; pp. 126 - 129
• Main Authors: Peñaherrera, A., Payés, C., Sierra-Rodero, M., Vega, M., Rosero, G., Lerner, B., Helguera, G., Pérez, M.S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.06.2016
• Subjects: Cell culture; HEK-293T cells; Lab on a chip; Microchannel; Microfluidic; Cell culture; HEK-293T cells; Lab on a chip; Microchannel; Microfluidic
• ISSN: 0167-9317; 1873-5568
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mee.2016.03.059

Microfluidic chips are useful devices for cell culture that allow cell growth under highly controlled conditions, as is required for production of therapeutic recombinant proteins. To understand the optimal conditions for growth of cells amenable of recombinant protein expression in these devices, we cultured HEK-293T cells under different microfluidic experimental conditions. The cells were cultured in polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microdevices, in the absence or presence of the cell adhesion agent poly-d-lysine. Different microchannel geometries and thicknesses, as well as the influence of the flow rate have also been tested, showing their great influence in cell adhesion and growth. Results show that the presence of poly-d-lysine improves the adhesion and viability of the cells in continuous or discontinuous flow. Moreover, the optimal adhesion of cells was observed in the corners of the microchannels, as well as in wide channels possibly due to the decrease in the flow rate in these areas. These studies provide insight into the optimal architecture of microchannels for long-term culture of adherent cells in order to use microfluidics devices as bioreactors for monoclonal antibodies production. [Display omitted] •HEK-293T cells have been cultured in PMMA and PDMS microfluidic devices.•Poly-D-lysine utility as cell adhesion molecule in microfluidics has been proved.•Channel geometry influence on cells adhesion and growth has been demonstrated.•New insights in monoclonal antibodies production using microfluidics are provided.