Abstract

Automation, Miniaturization and Integration of Lab-on-a-Chip Systems for Cell Analysis

Peter Ertl, Professor of Lab-on-a-Chip Systems, Vienna University of Technology

Microfluidics is vital for cell analysis because it is the only technology capable of simulating the physiological environment of cells and cell assemblies to investigate cellular transport mechanisms and cell proliferation events in the presence of test reagents, temperature or shear force gradients. In light of the benefits of microfluidics, my research group at AIT is developing lab-on-a-chip systems containing integrated fluid handling, degassing and biosensing systems to non-invasively monitor dynamic cell population responses. We have successfully integrated different electro-analytical, magnetic and optical detection methods in microfluidic devices (a) to assess the behaviour of structured 3-dimensional Candida biofilms, (b) to monitor dynamic stress responses of mammalian cell populations and (c) to detect cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix interactions.