Microfluidic Lab-on-a-Chip for Studies of Cell Migration under Spatial Confinement

Abstract

Understanding cell migration is a key step in unraveling many physiological phenomena and predicting several pathologies, such as cancer metastasis. In particular, confinement has been proven to be a key factor in the cellular migration strategy choice. As our insight in the field improves, new tools are needed in order to empower biologists’ analysis capabilities. In this framework, microfluidic devices have been used to engineer the mechanical and spatial stimuli and to investigate cellular migration response in a more controlled way. In this work, we will review the existing technologies employed in the realization of microfluidic cellular migration assays, namely the soft lithography of PDMS and hydrogels and femtosecond laser micromachining. We will give an overview of the state of the art of these devices, focusing on the different geometrical configurations that have been exploited to study specific aspects of cellular migration. Our scope is to highlight the advantages and possibilities given by each approach and to envisage the future developments in in vitro migration studies under spatial confinement in microfluidic devices.

High Throughput Confined Migration Microfluidic Device for Drug Screening

“…Those designed models are various and can be categorized as soft lithography‐based PDMS, hydrogel, and femtosecond laser micromachining based on the existing technologies. [ 25 ] Many devices to study cell‐confined migration are composed of PDMS due to their unique performance. The design type can be sorted into microchannel, grooved substrate, micropatterned line, and vertical confinement.…”

MACC1-induced migration in tumors: Current state and perspective

“…Such models are considered to represent migration along fibers in confinement ( 119 ) and are appropriate to either analyze single-cell migration or collective migration of groups of cells in a continuous manner ( 114 , 116 ). Furthermore, some systems, especially microfluidic ones, can be used to induce long-term stable chemotactic gradients ( 120 ). Consequently, 1D systems are suitable to assess chemotaxis, but also migration under confinement.…”

The deformation of cancer cells through narrow micropores holds the potential to regulate genes that impact cancer malignancy

“…20,[23][24][25] In this assay, cancer cells are seeded on top of a porous membrane and can migrate across it, enabling the segregation of cells based on their invasive potential. A recent study utilized a transparent microfluidic platform, [26][27][28][29] which consists of straight microfluidic channels made of optically transparent materials. This platform facilitates real-time imaging of cancer cell migration.…”