Simulation of a microfluidic device for prolonged cultivation and drug screening of MCF-7 breast cancer cells using COMSOL multiphysics®

Date of Publication

2024

Document Type

Bachelor's Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Premed Physics

Subject Categories

Medicine and Health Sciences

College

College of Science

Department/Unit

Physics

Thesis Advisor

Wilfred V. Espulgar

Defense Panel Chair

Mariquit M. Delos Reyes

Defense Panel Member

Prane Mariel B. Ong
Glenn G. Oyong

Abstract (English)

Fluid flow is a critical factor in optimizing cell culture conditions. The facilitation of waste disposal and nutrient transport reduces cellular stress. For physiologically relevant investigations, precise replication of in vivo conditions is crucial since different tissues, such as blood and interstitial fluid, exhibit different degrees of shear stress. Shear stress must be precisely controlled, granted cells react to mechanical forces. Because they can precisely manipulate small amounts of fluid, microfluidic devices present a viable platform for drug screening and cell research. The study focused on designing and simulating a microfluidic device optimized for future experiments on extended culture and drug testing of MCF-7 breast cancer cells. An investigation was conducted into the impact of different micropore diameters (20 μm, 40 μm, and 60 μm) on the lowering of shear stress while ensuring sufficient mass transfer. COMSOL Multiphysics® investigated diffusion properties in the microfluidic environment to maximize substance delivery. Specifically, laminar flow was investigated through the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) module to simulate the flow inside the microfluidic device designed. A flow rate computation resulted in a value of 1.17 x 10-2 μL/min (1.95 x 10-13 m3/s). While one-way ANOVA did not reveal significant differences in shear stress among the micropore sizes, linear regression analysis indicated an inverse relationship between micropore size and shear stress. The novel simulation methodologies presented here can accelerate cancer research by informing more effective microfluidic experimental designs for cell studies, encouraging further exploration and development in this field.

Abstract Format

html

Abstract (Filipino)

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Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Electronic

Keywords

Breast—Cancer—Research; Microfluidics

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Embargo Period

9-8-2024

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