A novel microfluidic design to generate multiplex gradients of biomolecules by visulized biomolecule patterning and direct cell adhesion

Here we present a novel microfluidic design to generate multiplex gradients of biomolecules based on hydrodynamic resistances. Chemical gradients were generated within parallel microfluidic channels, in which a range of multiplex concentration gradients with different profile shapes were simultaneously produced. We could also successfully generate covalent surface gradients of biomolecules. IgG antibody conjugated to three different fluorescence dyes was used to demonstrate the resulting multiplex concentration gradients. To demonstrate the applicability of the developed design for cell adhesion and patterning, multiplex concentration gradients of REDV and KRSR peptides were patterned along the width of parallel microfluidic channels and adhesion of primary human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) in each channel was investigated.