Biomol Ther.  2018 Jul;26(4):380-388. 10.4062/biomolther.2018.001.

Neural Stem Cell Differentiation Using Microfluidic Device-Generated Growth Factor Gradient

• Kim JH
• Sim J
• Kim HJ

• KMID: 2420389
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4062/biomolther.2018.001

Abstract

Neural stem cells (NSCs) have the ability to self-renew and differentiate into multiple nervous system cell types. During embryonic development, the concentrations of soluble biological molecules have a critical role in controlling cell proliferation, migration, differentiation and apoptosis. In an effort to find optimal culture conditions for the generation of desired cell types in vitro, we used a microfluidic chip-generated growth factor gradient system. In the current study, NSCs in the microfluidic device remained healthy during the entire period of cell culture, and proliferated and differentiated in response to the concentration gradient of growth factors (epithermal growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor). We also showed that overexpression of ASCL1 in NSCs increased neuronal differentiation depending on the concentration gradient of growth factors generated in the microfluidic gradient chip. The microfluidic system allowed us to study concentration-dependent effects of growth factors within a single device, while a traditional system requires multiple independent cultures using fixed growth factor concentrations. Our study suggests that the microfluidic gradient-generating chip is a powerful tool for determining the optimal culture conditions.

Keyword

Neural stem cells; Microfluidic chip; Growth factor-gradient; Differentiation; Proliferation; Neurogenesis

MeSH Terms

Apoptosis
Cell Culture Techniques
Cell Proliferation
Embryonic Development
Female
Fibroblasts
In Vitro Techniques
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
Lab-On-A-Chip Devices
Microfluidics*
Nervous System
Neural Stem Cells*
Neurogenesis
Neurons
Pregnancy
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins