Micro- and Nanosystems for Biotechnology by Love J. Christopher

Author:Love, J. Christopher
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9783527801299
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Published: 2016-02-19T00:00:00+00:00

5.4.4 Advantages and Disadvantages

As discussed, these new microfluidic devices have many advantages. They provide precise control over experimental conditions such as flow, force, solution mixing, nutrient supply, chemical signaling, and degree of cell–cell interaction [16, 72]. Microfluidics require significantly reduced sample and reagent volume, allow for quicker analysis with greater sensitivity, and are disposable and less costly [16, 18, 21, 30]. Device portability and transparent biomaterials that allow for in situ and real-time analysis of multiple parameters through integration of fluorescent microscopy and the ability to incorporate successive bifurcations of appropriate micrometer dimensions with precise reproducibility and accuracy are significant improvements over previous modeling techniques [16, 18, 23].

Despite the many benefits, there are, however, some disadvantages to using microfluidic devices. One of the major limitations for any of the fabrication techniques that utilize photolithography is the inability to model multiplanar devices thus reducing the accuracy of the in vitro model [8, 28]. Depending on the techniques used for device construction, some of the materials are too expensive for disposables, and clean-room facilities may not be readily available [18, 30]. The biomaterial used may prohibit the cells from experiencing stretch thus preventing responses to pressure, flow patterns, and chemical gradient changes, while also decreasing permeability to liquids that limits the life span of seeded cells [8]. Another limitation is the necessity to culture cells at approximately 21% oxygen, a level that is significantly higher than the 10% oxygen level seen in the microcirculation, and often results in cellular senescence and decreased life span of the cells [8].

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