Article

Chitosan microfiber fabrication using a microfluidic chip and its application to cell cultures

National Cheng Kung University Center for Micro/Nano Technology Tainan Taiwan
Microfluidics and Nanofluidics (impact factor: 3.37). 04/2012; 8(1):115-121. DOI:10.1007/s10404-009-0485-7 pp.115-121

ABSTRACT In this study, a poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA) microfluidic chip with a 45° cross-junction microchannel is fabricated using
a CO2 laser machine to generate chitosan microfibers. Chitosan solution and sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) solution were injected
into the cross-junction microchannel of the microfluidic chip. The laminar flow of the chitosan solution was generated by
hydrodynamic focusing. The diameter of laminar flow, which ranged from 30 to 50μm, was controlled by changing the ratio between
chitosan solution and STPP solution flow rates in the PMMA microfluidic chip. The laminar flow of the chitosan solution was
converted into chitosan microfibers with STPP solution via the cross-linking reaction; the diameter of chitosan microfibers
was in the range of 50–200μm. The chitosan microfibers were then coated with collagen for cell cultivation. The results show
that the chitosan microfibers provide good growth conditions for cells. They could be used as a scaffold for cell cultures
in tissue engineering applications. This novel method has advantages of ease of fabrication, simple and low-cost process.

0 0
 · 
0 Bookmarks
 · 
52 Views
Data provided are for informational purposes only. Although carefully collected, accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The impact factor represents a rough estimation of the journal's impact factor and does not reflect the actual current impact factor. Publisher conditions are provided by RoMEO. Differing provisions from the publisher's actual policy or licence agreement may be applicable.

Keywords

45° cross-junction microchannel
 
cell cultivation
 
cell cultures
 
chitosan microfibers
 
Chitosan solution
 
CO2 laser machine
 
collagen
 
cross-junction microchannel
 
cross-linking reaction
 
laminar flow
 
low-cost process
 
microfluidic chip
 
novel method
 
PMMA microfluidic chip
 
poly-methyl-methacrylate
 
scaffold
 
simple
 
STPP solution
 
STPP solution flow rates
 
tissue engineering applications