CellASIC ONIX plate diploid yeast cells (4 chamber, 5-7 micron)

We used the CellASIC™ ONIX MicroFluidic System, in conjunction with the M04S microfluidic plate, to achieve perfusion-based microenvironment control and study drug-induced cell death of 3D cultures of MCF7 cells in Matrigel®. The microfluidic chamber recreates the physiologic mass transport condition for optimized cell health. Four upstream fluidic channels allow controlled exposure of the cells to different solutions. The plate can also be cultured in a standard incubator using a dedicated gravity-driven flow channel. The cells are in contact with a #1.5 thickness (170 μm) optical glass surface, enabling high quality imaging using an inverted microscope. An integrated micro-incubator system delivers temperature and gas control to the microfluidic chambers.

We demonstrate here the ability to conduct gene expression analysis using the CellASIC™ ONIX System with M04S microfluidic plates. Ultimately, directly correlating gene expression patterns to phenotypes observed during live cell imaging can provide powerful, meaningful functional genomics data, revealing signaling networks and novel biomolecular interactions.