Author(s): Jackson Hoopes, Connor Roper, Andrew Holladay, Carson Hoopes, Dallin Jacobs
Mentor(s): Ken Christensen, Greg Nordin
Institution BYU
Concentration gradients are integral to many biological phenomena, including cell migration, tissue repair, tumor progression, and vascular development. Microfluidic devices have become a standard tool for generating and analyzing such gradients, yet common designs often suffer from issues like limited dynamic range, gradient instability, advection interference, and spatial inconsistencies. This study introduces a 3D-printed microfluidic device that addresses these challenges by decoupling advective and diffusive mass transport, resulting in a highly effective platform for chemotaxis assays. Our device demonstrates a wide dynamic range, spatial uniformity, temporal stability, and rapid gradient formation. Validation through fluorescent microscopy and chemotaxis experiments with human lung fibroblast (HFL1) cells responding to a chemoattractant shows effective cell migration toward the gradient source. This 3D-printed, microfluidic approach offers a versatile and reliable solution for investigating concentration-dependent cell behaviors, with broad potential applications in biological research.