A microfluidic chip with a wireless cell neuromodulation function
摘要
Current methods for the discovery, development, and application of drugs to combat brain diseases, including the most common and malignant cancer, glioblastoma, rely on traditional two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures, which have been shown to provide a poor reflection of natural physiology. Here we report the development of a novel three-dimensional (3D) dual-chamber chip for studying the effects of drugs on brain cells and slices; the chip consists of poly(dimethylsiloxane) and an optoelectronic device for wireless stimulation. The results show that this chip is able to operate with a minimal volume of fluid, to include multiple drugs simultaneously, and to test cell responses to drugs in parallel. The approach is easily reproducible, and this chip may become a powerful platform for solving problems such as high-throughput combination therapy with simultaneous application of drugs and stimulation.