A microfluidic device for automatic embryo trapping and coculture with stromal cells in vitro

Abstract

Nowadays, infertility is one of the major problems for many of married couples. Thus, there are a wide range of researches on infertility where the in vitro fertilization is the best known. However, the conventional approach to fertilize embryo requires more on manual operation times that may causes some damage of embryos. To overcome the drawback of conventional method, we present a microfluidic chip to trap cells and mimic a uterus in vitro by co-culturing stromal cells and mouse embryos. By dynamic resistance design, mouse embryos can be trapped individually. In this way, we can grow them by co-culturing with stromal cells in an open system with constant medium supply, known as dynamic perfusion. The novel method can reduce the manual operation and the possibility of damage to embryos. Also, the chip can track and manage individual embryos easily.