Microfluidics in Cell Biology Part C, Volume 148, a new release in the Methods in Cell Biology series, continues the legacy of this premier serial with quality chapters authored by leaders in the field. Unique to this updated volume are three sections on microfluidics in various multi-cellular models, including microfluidics in cell monolayers/spheroids, microfluidics in organ on chips, and microfluidics in model organisms. Specific chapters discuss collective migration in microtubes, leukocyte adhesion dynamics on endothelial monolayers under flow, constrained spheroid for perfusion culture, cells in droplet arrays, heart on chips, kidney on chips, liver on chips, and more. - Contains contributions from experts in the field from across the world - Covers a wide array of topics on both mitosis and meiosis - Includes relevant, analysis based topics

Microfluidics in Cell Biology Part A: Volume 146, the latest release in the Methods in Cell Biology series, continues the legacy of this premier serial with quality chapters authored by leaders in the field. Unique to this updated volume are sections on Cell monolayers/spheroids, Collective migration in microtubes, Leukocyte adhesion dynamics on endothelial monolayers under flow, Constrained spheroid for perfusion culture, Cells in droplet arrays, Heart on chips, Kidney on chips, Liver on chips and hepatic immune responses, Gut on chips, 3D microvascular model-based lymphoma model, Blood brain barrier on chips, Multi-organ-on-a-chip for pharmacokinetic analysis, Cancer immunotherapy on chips, and more. - Contains contributions from experts in the field from across the globe - Covers a wide array of topics on both mitosis and meiosis - Includes relevant, analysis based topics

The larger goal of this work is to engineer an appropriate in vitro platform to understand the complex interplay of various effectors in vivo. The specific approach taken was to develop and utilize microfluidic devices to study the impact of stable soluble biochemical gradients on cellular behaviors. Microfluidic devices are tools capable of recreating many critical aspects of the natural microenvironments of cells and tissues in a controllable and reductionist manner. Several microfluidic device geometries were evaluated through computational finite element modeling and experimental characterization studies to produce predictable and stable concentration gradients over multiple days of cell culture. We implemented these helpful devices in order to study the mechanism of cellular responses to various biochemical and biomechanical factors in both two and three dimensions for several cellular applications. First, this device was used to perform an in depth study of the complex interplay between soluble biochemical and biomaterial effectors of endothelial cell sprouting. The sprouting of endothelial cells into capillary-like structures is an early critical step in angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from existing conduits. Time-lapse microscopic images of endothelial sprouts within the devices were quantified to determine the role of matrix density in regulating sprout initiation, elongation, and navigation. Matrix density was found to have profound effects on sprout kinetics, morphology, and alignment within gradients of vascular endothelial growth factor. Use of these novel microfluidic devices was expanded to include proof-of-concept experiments demonstrating the high-throughput screening of multiple engineered biomaterials to identify scaffold properties conducive to endothelial network formation. Finally, the microfluidic devices were utilized in preliminary studies of neuronal cell behavior within gradients of various neurotrophins and bone marrow derived mast cell chemotaxis within gradients of Kit ligand. Taken together, the results of this thesis demonstrate the usefulness of microfluidic devices as well-controlled in vitro culture platforms capable of creating stable, soluble biochemical gradients. Furthermore, these devices may lead to future techniques to provide directional cues during cell and tissue growth for regenerative medicine applications. For example, our results may be useful for developing potential pro- and anti-angiogenic therapeutic strategies for clinical treatment of ischemia and cancer, respectively.

The field of microfluidics has in the last decade permeated many disciplines, from physics to biology and chemistry, and from bioengineering to medical research. One of the most important applications of lab-on-a-chip devices in medicine and related disciplines is disease diagnostics, which involves steps from biological sample/analyte loading to storage, detection, and analysis. The chapters collected in this book detail recent advances in these processes using microfluidic devices and systems. The reviews of portable devices for diagnostic purposes are likely to evoke interest and raise new research questions in interdisciplinary fields (e.g., efficient MEMS/microfluidic engineering driven by biological and medical applications).The variety of the selected topics (general relevance of microfluidics in medical and bioengineering research, fabrication, advances in on-chip sample detection and analysis, and specific disease models) ensures that each of them can be viewed in the larger context of microfluidic-mediated diagnostics.

This book describes novel microtechnologies and integration strategies for developing a new class of assay systems to retrieve desired health information from patients in real-time. The selection and integration of sensor components and operational parameters for developing point-of-care (POC) are also described in detail. The basics that govern the microfluidic regimen and the techniques and methods currently employed for fabricating microfluidic systems and integrating biosensors are thoroughly covered. This book also describes the application of microfluidics in the field of cell and molecular biology, single cell biology, disease diagnostics, as well as the commercially available systems that have been either introduced or have the potential of being used in research and development. This is an ideal book for aiding biologists in understanding the fundamentals and applications of microfluidics. This book also: Describes the preparatory methods for developing 3-dimensional microfluidic structures and their use for Lab-on-a-Chip design Explains the significance of miniaturization and integration of sensing components to develop wearable sensors for point-of-care (POC) Demonstrates the application of microfluidics to life sciences and analytical chemistry, including disease diagnostics and separations Motivates new ideas related to novel platforms, valving technology, miniaturized transduction methods, and device integration to develop next generation sequencing Discusses future prospects and challenges of the field of microfluidics in the areas of life sciences in general and diagnostics in particular

This book focuses on state-of-the-art microfluidic research in medical and biological applications. The top-level researchers in this research field explain carefully and clearly what can be done by using microfluidic devices. Beginners in the field —undergraduates, engineers, biologists, medical researchers—will easily learn to understand microfluidic-based medical and biological applications. Because a wide range of topics is summarized here, it also helps experts to learn more about fields outside their own specialties. The book covers many interesting subjects, including cell separation, protein crystallization, single-cell analysis, cell diagnosis, point-of-care testing, immunoassay, embyos/worms on a chip and organ-on-a-chip. Readers will be convinced that microfluidic devices have great potential for medical and biological applications.