Microfluidic system for controlling a concentration profile of molecules capable of stimulating a target

摘要

The invention relates to a microfluidic system for controlling a concentration profile of molecules capable of stimulating a target, for example formed by an assembly of living cells, this system comprising: —a microfluidic device (1) comprising at least one microfluidic channel (4) equipped with at least one inlet orifice (21) and with at least one outlet orifice (22) for at least one fluid; —at least one means for supplying the microfluidic channel (4) with at least one fluid comprising molecules capable of stimulating the target; —at least one chamber (8) or another microfluidic channel comprising a base (6) intended to receive the target; and —at least one microporous membrane (5) separating the chamber (8) or the other microfluidic channel from the microfluidic channel (4), said microporous membrane (5) being positioned away from the base (6) so that when the supply means provides the microfludic channel (4) with said at least one fluid flowing in laminar flow in contact with the microporous membrane (5), the molecules capable of stimulating the target then diffuse, after having passed through the microporous membrane (5) through the chamber (8) or said other microfluidic channel in order to finally form a stable concentration profile in this chamber (8) or this other microfluidic channel.

主权项

1. A microfluidic system comprising:
a microfluidic device comprising at least one microfluidic channel having at least: a first branch provided with an inlet orifice for a first fluid, a second branch provided with an inlet orifice for a second fluid comprising molecules likely to stimulate a target; a common branch for said fluids, provided with an outlet orifice for said fluids, the first and second branches combining in the common branch; at least one fluid source connected to the inlet orifices of the at least one microfluidic channel for supplying the channel with said fluids; at least one chamber or another microfluidic channel having a base configured to receive the target, wherein the target is formed by a set of living cells; and at least one microporous membrane arranged at an interface of the common branch upstream from the outlet orifice, said microporous membrane being positioned to separate the at least one chamber or the other micro fluidic channel from the common branch at least one microfluidic channel, said microporous membrane being impervious to said fluids and configured to prevent said fluids from going through to the other side of the membrane and to allow said molecules to diffuse therethrough; said microporous membrane not directly contacting the base so that when the at least one fluid source supplies the at least one microfluidic channel with said fluids, the diffusion of molecules likely to stimulate the target occurs, after going through the microporous membrane, then through the at least one chamber or said other microfluidic channel, and wherein after the diffusion of the molecules likely to stimulate a reaction with the target in the chamber or the other micro fluidic channel, a concentration profile in the at least one chamber or the other microfluidic channel is generated.