Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. One challenge is understanding how cancer cells react to heterogenous tumor environments. There are many practices for researching cancer, but microfluidics provides a new approach; therefore, the goal of the project was to observe human breast cancer cells within a 3D microfluidic system. Sharp, predictable oxygen gradients can be modeled and effects such as viability, proliferation, and migration of the cells can be observed. Three gradient lengths were tested and analyzed in the PDMS device and were produced by flowing nitrogen (0% O2) and compressed air (21% O2): sharp (100um), intermediate (700um), and shallow (5mm). The sharp gradient device produced the most migration and proliferation in the hyperoxic region.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Alvarez, Franklin David
• Henderson, Michelle Kathleen

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042717-141012

Advisor

• Albrecht, Dirk

Year

• 2017

Date created

• 2017-04-27

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biomedical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright