| WARF: P05423US |  |
| Microfluidic Platform Capable of Generating a Stable Chemical Gradient for Studying Cells |
| INVENTORS | • | David Beebe, Vinay Abhyankar |
The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) is seeking commercial partners interested in developing a device used to expose cells to a particular chemical gradient in vitro.
OVERVIEW
Chemical gradients play an important role in mediating biological activity in vivo. Many flow-based microfluidic systems have been designed to generate chemical gradients; however, because the flow washes away cell signaling components, these systems are less useful in biological applications where cell-to-cell communication is an important factor.
THE INVENTION
UW-Madison researchers have developed a device used to expose cells to a particular chemical gradient in vitro. This device generates a stable chemical gradient in a microfluidic channel. Because it is not flow-based, signaling factors remain close to the cells, providing a more in vivo-like environment. The device consists of a microchannel with a source region on one end and a larger sink region on the other end. Particles from the source pass through a diffusion membrane into the input of the channel. The membrane provides high resistance to fluid flow, while still allowing chemical transport. The sink at the channel’s output includes a generally constant concentration of particles. The source/sink combination creates a pseudo-steady state in the channel where the concentration of particles at a given point does not vary dramatically with time. To determine the effects of the gradient, cells or other materials may be added to the channel via a cell addition port.
APPLICATIONS
- Study of autocrine and paracrine interactions
- Cell differentiation experiments
- Investigating threshold concentrations or relating cell motility rates to the gradient slope in chemotaxis applications
KEY BENEFITS
- Gradient is stable and well defined
- Because this system is not flow-based, growth and signaling factors secreted by cells are not swept away
- Provides an in vitro environment more representative of in vivo conditions
- Does not disrupt cell-to-cell communication in chemotaxis studies that examine migration of cells toward a particular gradient
- System is simple to use and inexpensive to manufacture.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For More Information About the Inventors
Intellectual Property Status
Tech Fields
Research Tools - Protein interactions & function
Micro & Nanotech - Microfluidics
Analytical Instrumentation - Microfluidics
CONTACT INFORMATION
For current licensing status, please contact our team at
licensing@warf.org
or phone 608.262.4924. (Clicking this link will open a contact form in a popup window. If you have problems viewing the form, try disabling your popup blocker software.)
Since its founding in 1925 as the patenting and licensing organization for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, WARF has been working with business and industry to transform university research into products that benefit society. WARF intellectual property managers and licensing staff members are leaders in the field of university-based technology transfer. They are familiar with the intricacies of patenting, have worked with researchers in relevant disciplines, understand industries and markets, and have negotiated innovative licensing strategies to meet the individual needs of business clients.
