Introduction: Cell Culture
Cell culture involves the maintenance and growth of cell in a controlled laboratory environment for a variety of purpose. The basis of all these purpose is that one could grow cells that mimic precisely the biological and mechanical properties to cell in vivo. In fact, like cells in body, they interact with other cells, to grow, divide, differentiate, and migration. This is only possible, if the test environment conditions are created very similar to those of in vivo in order to meet all the cell culture needs.
Methods: Cell Culture in Microfluidics
To this end, microfluidic device and 3D scaffold are used in cell culture. In general, the role of microfluidics is to create a vascular like vascular system that converts static culture into a dynamic environment. These dynamic surroundings simulate capillary circulation in the laboratory conditions so all cells are properly exposed to nutrients and grow. Besides, providing the cells in culture environment with possibility to grow in 3D similar to those of body cells, 3D scaffolds have the role of meeting the cells’ need by very accurate simulation of extracellular Matrix (ECM). ECM’s are said of specific proteoglycans and protein. Although, their constituents are generally the same, but they also suit themselves with other components according to each tissue. Thereby, they exhibit properties course ponding to that tissue. Relation between cells and extracellular matrix is very important because ECMs communicate many message to the cells which are vital to their grow, division, and differentiations.
Results: Cell Adhesion in Microfluidics
There exist many challenge next to developing and in vitro environment very similar to the in vivo surroundings, and fabricating quasi- cellular ECMs, the cell adhesion stage is a major challenge. This is one of the most difficult a steps to be taken, carefully. At this step, cells need to be delicately handle so they could survive, retain their natural functional properties, and consequently display exact features of their counterpart body cells. Also to grow like them and finally to function. Another challengeable point is the binding, it must be a strong but not permanent. extensive studies have been conducted to address this challenges. Also various of Solutions have been proposed to overcome them, but in vain. Either the proposed solutions were not able to completely resolve the challenges or they did not have adequate gains. Of course, some of them were associated with unwanted side effects, such as protein absorption by PDMS.
Conclusion: Microfluidics Modification Using Nanoparticles
The previous efforts, addressing these challenges, have led to usage of nanoparticles, which have presented promising results. Nowadays, nanoparticles are very popular due to their unique properties and their use in various fields. Generally, unique properties of nanoparticles are utilised to modify surface. These modifications enhance the surface properties in various ways. Due to their high surface energies (surface to volume ratio), nanoparticles were able to solve cell adhesion problem to an extent. Nanoparticle have solved abnormal signalling and Nano electrospinning scaffold was able to produce ECM very much similar to in vivo cell. Besides a number of common futures and effects of nanoparticles, they also have a specific and unique features and effects that fits them to be selectable for aim. This approach is heralding solution for previous challenges, accurately pursuing new and precise goals, and achieving objective that wear impossible so far; like hormone release via nanoparticle spheres