WARF: P06323US
Method and Device for Control of Diffusive Transport

INVENTORS

•

David Beebe, Ivar Meyvantsson

To study reciprocal cell-to-cell signaling through soluble factors in vitro, cells that overexpress a component of a pathway or have a dominant negative allele can be used; however, this requires prior knowledge of the pathways involved. Alternatively, two or more cell types can be observed as they are joined in co-culture or separated after having been in contact. But traditional co-culture techniques do not enable easy cessation of cell-to-cell communication within a co-culture, and it is not possible to remove all signals originating with one cell type without affecting the other cell type. UW-Madison researchers have developed a method and microfluidic device that enables control of communication between two or more cells positioned within the device. The device has two micro-chambers separated by a junction. Each chamber contains a different cell type. A slow flow across the junction can be used to block diffusion between the chambers, preventing communication between the cells. A molecule diffusing from one chamber toward the other will be swept away by the flow. To resume cell-to-cell communication, the flow can be stopped. The flow can also be restricted to allow only particles of a predetermined minimum size to diffuse from one chamber to another.

• Researching reciprocal signaling between cells

• Provides dynamic control of diffusive transport between cells
• Enables easy cessation of cell-to-cell communication during an experiment
• Allows researchers to study reciprocal signaling between cells without knowing what pathways are involved

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