Electrolytic patterning of dissolved oxygen microgradients during cell culture

We present a microsystem capable of electrochemically patterning the dissolved oxygen gradients present in cell culture. Multiple microelectrodes in an array are separated from the cells by an oxygen permeable membrane. Each electrode generates distinct amounts of dissolved oxygen via electrolysis; these different sources superimpose to generate one- and two-dimensional microgradient profiles not possible with other methods. We believe this is the first technology that enables researchers to pattern localized oxygen doses and program arbitrary oxygen gradients with microscale resolution during cell culture. We present fluorescent and colorimetric data on the construction of two-dimensional oxygen microgradients in aqueous solution and preliminary cell culture results with C2C12 rat myoblasts.