A Proof-of-Concept Study Using Numerical Simulations of an Acoustic Spheroid-on-a-Chip Platform for Improving 3D Cell Culture

Microfluidic lab-on-chip devices are widely being developed for chemical and biological studies. One of the most commonly used types these chips is perfusion microwells culturing multicellular spheroids. The main challenge in such systems formation substantial necrotic quiescent zones within cultured Herein, we propose a novel acoustofluidic integrated platform to tackle this bottleneck problem. It will be shown numerically that an approach potential candidate implemented enhance cell viability shrinks without need increase flow rate, leading significant reduction costly reagents’ consumption conventional spheroid-on-a-chip platforms. Proof-of-concept, designing procedures numerical simulation discussed detail. Additionally, effects acoustic hydrodynamic parameters on cells investigated. results show by increasing boundary displacement amplitude (d0), spheroid’s proliferating zone enlarges greatly. Moreover, it implementing d0 = 0.5 nm, required rate maintain below 13% decreased 12 times compared non-acoustic chips.