2017 Volume 69 Issue 3 Pages 137-140
In this research, we developed a microfluidic in vitro cancer invasion model which takes into account both intercellular adhesion and cell-cell interaction existing in 3D tumor cell clusters. The device has 2 parallel main channels connected with 10 orifices which have taper-shaped structures. The diameters of wider openings of the orifice and its narrower pore are approximately 80 μm, and 10 μm respectively. The wide opening allows several cells to be packed in the orifice and to touch each other tightly. The device made of PDMS was fabricated through two-step softlithography using an SU-8 mold produced by a 3D lithography technique. In device evaluation, PC-3 cells （a prostate cancer cell line） introduced from one main channel were packed into the orifices using a flow towards the other main channel generated by hydrostatic pressure difference. Then by filling the other main channel with a medium containing invasion-inducing factors, an invasion cell moved through the pore along the laminin-coated wall of the orifice was successfully observed on the device.
