Seamless combination of FACS and microfluidic culturing of cell suspensions using the hanging drop network technology

Abstract

Open microfluidic cell culturing devices offer new possibilities to simplify cell loading and culturing due to the fact that liquids and cells are directly accessible. Based on the hanging-drop network concept [1], we present a seamless work flow for microfluidic cell culturing: The open microfluidic devices are compatible to FACS so that individual cells can be directly sorted into specified culturing compartments in a fully automated way and at high accuracy. Cell culturing is then performed in the hanging drops under controlled perfusion while the overall stability is ensured by applying on-chip drop size control measures.