Three-dimensional (3D) extra-cellular matrix coating of a microfluidic device

Abstract

Cell migration on two-dimensional (2-D) surface is distinctively different from cell migration in threedimensional (3-D) matrix. Although cell motility on 2-D matrix is widely studied, 3-D cell migration is just beginning to be understood. With the development of micro-fluidic systems, it is possible to study cell motility under much better controlled conditions. In this work, we present techniques for controlled coating of 3-D extracellular matrix (ECM) within microfluidic devices. This coating technique relies on the dominance of capillary forces and surface tensions in micro systems. We have successfully created uniform coating of Matrigel across microgaps of different lengths. This simple and reproducible method will have widespread biological applications such as the study of 3-D cell migration, the coating of basement membrane for cancer metastasis and angiogenesis study. © 2006 IOP Publishing Ltd.