Three Dimensional Perfusion Culture of Encapsulated Embryonic Stem Cells in Microfluidic Chip

This paper presents encapsulation of embryonic stem (ES) cells in alginate beads using immiscible two-phase microfluidic chip and also demonstrates a perfusion culture of the encapsulated cells in microfluidic chip for statistical study of differentiation of stem cells. 3D culture of stem cells in microfluidic chip was demonstrated through the encapsulation of cells in alginate beads. ES cells were aggregated to form embryonic body without cell death and the perfusion culture chip was capable of obtaining statistical differentiation status of stem cells in each bead.