A cell migration model based on microfluidics and its application for baicalin pharmacodynamics research

An in-vitro model of cell migration based on microfluidic technology was established to study the pharmacodynamics of baicalin. Fabrication and design of a microfluidic chip that integrated microvalve. The cells viability on the chip was detected by LIVE/DEAD cell staining kit. Fluorescein sodium was used to measure the drug concentration gradient of the drug on the chip. DiI and DiO labeled tumor cells were added into chip and facilitated the observation over the function of the microvalve to segregate the cells. The migration of cells was observed and calculated every 12 h. ELISA assay was used to measure the concentration of MMP-2, MMP-9 as well as E-cadherin in the culture medium. These finding indicated that the viability of cells was upto 100%. The chip was able to produce the stable concentration gradient and the microvalve also functioned to segregate the cells very well. The baicalin exhibited inhibitory effect on the migration of human hepatoma HepG2 cells via decreasing the secretion MMP-2 and MMP-9 proteins(P< 0. 05). Taken together, this study provided novel application of microfluidic technology in the Chinese medicine field.