A reusable microfluidic plate with alternate-choice architecture for assessing growth preference in tissue culture

We present the design of a chamber to evaluate in vitro how species and concentrations of soluble molecules control features of cell growth-potentially including cell proliferation, cell motility, process extension, and process termination. We have created a reusable cell culture plate that integrates a microfluidic media delivery network with standard cell culture environment. The microfluidic network delivers a stream of cell culture media with a step-like concentration gradient down a 50-100 μm wide microchannel called the presentation region. Migrating cells or growing cell processes freely choose between the two distinct chemical environments in the presentation region, but they are forced to exclusively choose either one environment or the other when they grow past a physical barrier acting as a decision point. Our fabrication technique requires little specialized equipment, and can be carried out in approximately 4 days per plate. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our plates as neurites from spiral ganglion explants preferentially grow in media containing neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) as opposed to media without NT-3. Our design could be used without modification to study dissociated cell responses to soluble growth cues, and for behavioral screening of small motile organisms.