BIOGRAPHY
J. Tanner Nevill

Microfluidic Cell Analysis Platform: On Chip Cell Culture and Electrochemical Lysis [BPN355]
Cultured cells are used in a variety of contexts ranging
from high throughput screening of drugs to systems biology.
Microfluidic devices for cell culture studies offer numerous
advantages over plate-based cell culture, and because of
this, are being increasingly used in laboratory settings.4,5
Microfluidic devices can provide physiologically relevant
microenvironments by allowing for constant perfusion and
3D tissue-like structure. Additionally, time and costs are
reduced due to decreased reagent volumes and automated
handling. Higher surface-to-volume ratios can also offer
improved and novel detection schemes.

Existing microfluidic systems for cell-based lysate studies
require the addition of lysis buffers and subsequent washing
steps, increasing the complexity of such devices and reducing
their ease of use. We have developed an integrated microfluidic
cell analysis system that allows for continuous perfusion
cell culture with on-demand cell lysis. Lysis is achieved by
applying a DC voltage to electrochemically generate hydroxide
inside the device. This lysis method differs from other electrical
lysis techniques. Rather than relying on high electric
fields to irreversibly electroporate the cells, electrochemically
generated hydroxide ions permanently disrupt the cellular
membrane by cleaving fatty acid groups, thereby releasing
intracellular material.