An integrated microfluidic culture device for quantitative analysis of human embryonic stem cells.

Journal: 
Lab Chip
Publication Year: 
2009
Authors: 
Ken-Ichiro Kamei
Shuling Guo
Zeta Tak For Yu
Hiroko Takahashi
Eric Gschweng
Carol Suh
Xiaopu Wang
Jinghua Tang
Jami McLaughlin
Owen N Witte
Ki-Bum Lee
Hsian-Rong Tseng
PubMed link: 
19190791
Public Summary: 
Scientific Abstract: 
We have successfully designed and fabricated an integrated microfluidic platform, the hESC-microChip, which is capable of reproducible and quantitative culture and analysis of individual hESC colonies in a semi-automated fashion. In this device, a serpentine microchannel allows pre-screening of dissociated hESC clusters, and six individually addressable cell culture chambers enable parallel hESC culture, as well as multiparameter analyses in sequence. In order to quantitatively monitor hESC proliferation and pluripotency status in real time, knock-in hESC lines with EGFP driven by the endogenous OCT4 promoter were constructed. On-chip immunoassays of several pluripotency markers were carried out to confirm that the hESC colonies maintained their pluripotency. For the first time, our studies demonstrated well characterized hESC culture and analysis in a microfluidic setting, as well as a proof-of-concept demonstration of parallel/multiparameter/real-time/automated examination of self-renewal and differentiation in the same device.