Evaluation and testing of a self-filling particle trapping microfluidic chip

Abstract

The ability to trap single cells inside a microfluidic chip and subsequent imaging is normally paired with the use of a precise and expensive external pressure source to control the liquid flow. Here we present a self-filling particle trapping chip, which can be used without additional equipment. Different designs of hydrodynamic cell traps were evaluated using cell sized beads and Jurkat T cells. Also, how different plasma treatment conditions of the PDMS surface combined with accelerated aging influence the trapping ability of the chips was investigated. The cell-trapping and self-filling function of the chip could be validated but optimisations of the design are recommended to increase the efficiency.