Electrolytically generated oxygen microgradients for cell culture

We present a microdevice capable of electrochemically generating user-defined oxygen gradients for use in cell and tissue culture. Electrolytic dissolved oxygen generation at multiple electrodes evolves 1D and 2D oxygen gradients across several millimeters with microscale precision and has the potential to test the effect of localized oxygen doses on a wide range of tissue and cell samples. The developed microgradients are stable for days, enabling experiments of physiologically relevant duration. We present the basic theory of operation and initial results.