A cost-effective way to design a two-layered cell trapping microfluidic device

Abstract

When studying cells population, sometimes is necessary to isolate a specific subset to perform a timeline analysis or determinate the evolution on cell progeny. Microfluidic devices are being used for fulfill this function in multiple designs. However, the design and fabrication of this type of devices involve multiple challenges and high cost. Miniaturization tends to be the primarily challenge where those devices below 10um tends to be so expensive that needs special facilities for fabrication, but using techniques as multilayer fabrication those problems can be overcome. In this work are stated techniques (photolithography, soft-lithography) that helps solving that limitations, from using inexpensive materials, to alignment techniques that does not requires high-tech equipments, and a practical design for microfluidic cell trapping array. Where multiple cell types could be seeded and trapped in small cluster (varying on cell size) to be retrieved later on in an easy and practical way.