Microfluidic system and method for the construction and subsequent cultivation and subsequent investigation of complex cell arrays

摘要

A microfluidic system (12) for constructing and subsequently examining complex cell arrays has a three-dimensional microstructure (11) in which cell culture is built, cultured and examined. In the microstructure (11) extend at least two microchannel sections (16, 17) over which the microstructure (11) from the outside with a medium (21, 22) is perfused, the microchannel sections (16, 17) at least partially approximately parallel or equidistant to each other. The two microchannel sections (16, 17) are separated from each other by a wall structure (25), in which at least one opening (26) connecting the two microchannel sections (16, 17) is provided. An electrode arrangement (27) is provided in or on the microstructure (11) in order to generate an inhomogeneous electric field (28) in the region of the at least one opening (26). In this microstructure (11), a cell assembly is constructed by supplying medium (21, 22) with cells (23, 24) for establishing the cell culture to the microstructure (11), wherein the inhomogeneous electric field determined by the microstructure (11) ( 28) effects the construction of the cell arrangement from the supplied cells (23, 24) (FIG. 2).