Microfluidic MEMS for Delivering Chemicals to Single Cells

We study MEMS application to biotechnology. A novel microfluidic MEMS can deliver chemicals to single cells and observe their intracellular responses. For developing understanding of the mechanism that a β-cell secretes insulin in response to the rise of glucose concentration in the blood, the microfluidic MEMS allows us to deliver glucose to a limited area of a single β-cell, and to observe its insulin granules.



Fig.(upper) Microfluidic MEMS device
Fig.(below) Experimental reslts on cell culture in Microfluidic MEMS device

参考文献
K. Terao, A. Okonogi, A. Fuke, T. Okitsu, T. Suzuki, M. Washizu, H. Kotera:
“Localized substance delivery to single cell and 4D imaging of its uptake using a flow channel with a lateral aperture”
Microfluidics and Nanofluidics, 12, 423-429 (2012).