Handling Instructions Channel Interaction Chip
Fluidic 983

Chip description
Cell cultivation is possible in each of the five units present
on one chip. Each unit consists of three adjacent cavities
that are separated by each other through pillars. The central chamber has a size of 1 x 0.5 x 18 mm (w/h/l) and iswith 7.8 µl the biggest chamber. The two adjacent chambers have a size of 0.5 x 0.5 x 18 mm (w/h/l) resulting in a
volume of 4.8 µl.
The five units thereby only differ in the size of the pillars andthus the spacing/gap between them.

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•
•
•

unit V pillar gap of 250 µm
unit W pillar gap of 225 µm
unit X pillar gap of 200 µm
unit Y pillar gap of 175 µm
unit Z pillar gap of 150 µm

A basic chip module for cell culture assays
With the interaction chip family cell-cell interaction, of cells
cultured in separate culture compartments, can be monitored.
The channel interaction chip Fluidic 983, has been developed to study cells co-cultured in three adjacent channels, toeach of which a microfluidic flow can be applied. The threechannels are divided from each other by transmissive pillar
barriers. On each channel interaction chip, five independantco-culture units can be found, which differ in the width of thepillar barrier.
One potential culture setting is the use of the two outer channels in perfusion mode while the inner channel can be easily
filled with a cell-containing gelatinous extracellular matrix for
static 3D culture conditions. Both co-culture and migratory
cell assays are potential applications.

Contact in Japan: ASICON Tokyo Ltd.
www.asicon-tokyo.com / asicon-tokyo@asicon-tokyo.com

Handling Instructions Fluidic 983
Handling instructions - a step-by-step description
Side channel 1

InletsCentral channel /Gel-channel

12ABSide channel 1

Side channel 2

Central channel /Gel-channel

Outlets

Side channel 2

3

4

Necessary equipment• 1 x chip Fluidic 983• 30 x low-displacement Mini Luer plugs• Conventional pipettes• Extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogel e.g. Matrigel® (makesure to follow the general handling instructions forworking with gelling ECM, like cooling pipette tips, etc.)

Step 1• Work in sterile conditions (sterile bench)• Prepare 30 Mini Luer plugs and one chip
• Close in- and outlets 1-4 (side channels) in each of theunits• Leave only the central gel channel (A, B) open

Step 2• Mix your cells with chilled, liquid ECM• Load your pipette with 10 µl of cell containing ECM• Place the pipette exactly in the middle of the inlet A andapply slight pressure• Gently release the ECM to fill the chamber• Halt dispense at first pipette stop to avoid air bubbles
Step 3• Fill as many units as desired• Allow the gel to set for 1-2 min• Place Mini Luer plugs gently and without pressure into

interfaces A and B• Use two fingers to simultaneously push down both plugs
firmlyHandling Instructions Fluidic 983
Step 4• Use a microcope to check for even filling or bubbles• A gel line should be visible inbetween the pillars• Let the gel polymerise for another 15 - 20 min in a cell
culture incubator at 37 °C

Step 5• To fill the first side channel remove the plugs in theinterfaces 1 and 2• Load a pipette with 10 µl of a (cell) solution of choice• Place the pipette exactly in the middle of the inlet, apply
slight pressure and release the liquid

Step 6• Continue by removing the plugs from the interfaces 3and 4 of the second side channel• Now only the central gel channel should be closed withplugs

Step 7• Place the Mini Luer plugs gently and without pressure

into interfaces 1 and 2 of the previously filled sidechannel• Use two fingers to simultaneously push down both plugs
firmlyStep 8• Now start to fill the second side channel• Load a pipette with 10 µl of a (cell) solution of choice• Place the pipette exactly in the middle of the inlet, apply

slight pressure and release the liquid• Close this channel with plugs• Place the chip into the incubator for cell attachment inside channels
Continue with your microfluidic experimentHandling Instructions Fluidic 983
Microfluidic use-case settingsOnce prepared, the channel interaction chip can be used in different use-casesettings. Fluidic operation via syringe- or pressure pumps is enabled by our Mini
Luer connectors, linked via a short piece of soft silicone tubing, to a second harder
PTFE tube guiding to the pump.
Furthermore, tanks can be used (different volumes available) that allow to power thechip passively by gravity-/diffusion-driven flow or actively by liquid actuation throughmechanical piston or pneumatic pressure. Active operation can be carried out insuction-mode by applying negative pressure at the outlets (connected to tubing) orin push-mode by applying positive pressure to the tanks via interfaces in their lid.

Channel interaction chip with Mini Luer connectors in the in- andoutlets of the side channels, linked to PTFE tubing

Channel interaction chip with 500 µl sampling vessels (Fluidic639) and Mini Luer connectors linked to PTFE tubing

Off-the-shelf available - channel interaction chip Fluidic 983
The channel interaction chip Fluidic 983 is off the shelf available in 3 different thermoplastic polymers which are Topas (COC),
Polystyrene (PS) or Zeonor (COP).

Channel interaction chip Fluidic 983 with Mini Luer interfaces

Detailed schematic drawing of pillar distances of Fluidic 983

Description

Material

LidThickness [µm]Surface
Treatment

10001345

Channel interaction chipTopas140-10001347

Channel interaction chipPS125-10001349

Channel interaction chip

Zeonor188-10001346

Channel interaction chip

Topas

140

hydrophilized

10001348

Channel interaction chip

PS125hydrophilized

10001350

Channel interaction chip

Zeonor188hydrophilized

Product CodeDescription of Accessories

MaterialQuantity

10000116

Male Mini Luer fluid connector

TPE - opaque

10 pcs / pack

10000280

Male Mini Luer plugs – Low volume displacement

PP - Red

10 pcs / pack

10000031

Silicone tube, ID: 0.76 mm, OD: 1.65 mm

Silicone

1m10000032

Micro tubes, PTFE, ID: 0.5 mm, OD:1.0 mm

PTFE1mProduct Codefor Fluidic 983

Contact in Japan ASICON Tokyo Ltd.
www.asicon-tokyo.com / asicon-tokyo@asicon-tokyo.com

Assembly of Mini Luer fluid connector, silicone sleeve and PTFE
tubing