A microfluidic-based platform for in vitro studies of cell signaling in blood vessels

A microfluidic-based platform is developed for in vitro investigation of signaling within the blood-stream leading to preferential homing of specific cells such as white blood cells (WBCs) selectively to injured host organs. A microchannel has been coated with a monolayer of endothelial cells to mimic the microenvironment in blood vessels, while stable chemokine gradients have been generated locally at selected locations along the microchannel sidewalls. We demonstrate that both the chemokine gradients and the endothelial cells are simultaneously maintained during steady flow of cells as in the blood stream.