Self-assembled Particle Membrane (SAPM)-integrated Bioreactor Array for Dynamic Cultivation and Selective Extraction of Mutant Libraries

Abstract

In the field of bio engineering, microfluidic bioreactor systems play a key role for screening of target cell. Screening of cells requires several procedures including trapping, cultivating, analyzing and extraction of target cells in confined microchamber. However, existing microfluidic bioreactor devices have limitations in complexity, flexibility and cultivation condition. In this study, we introduced a self-assembled particle membranes (SAPMs)-integrated microfluidic bioreactor system which able to cultivate cells in dynamic and chemostat-like manner as well as selectively extract the target cell in microchamber by employing a UV-curable material. The SAPMs can be spontaneously and simultaneously generated into the multi-depth microfluidic channel so that 64 SAPM-integrated bioreactor array has been fabricated. Using this device, sequential increase of two different fluorescent signals (i.e., GFP and RFP) have been observed by supplying different gene inducers for cells. Lastly, as a potential application of device, a perfect isolation of rare cell, starting from composition of 20,000:1, can be achieved by repeating 3 times of screening and selective extraction processes. Therefore, we believe that this microfluidic bioreactor system can be an attractive way for screening as well as analysis of various cells.