Using Microfluidics for Metabolic Monitoring of Single Embryo Cultures

In recent years, microfluidics has demonstrated novel methods of culturing and studying cells. Within welldefined volumes comparable to the sample of interest, media, nutrients or toxins may be precisely targeted to individual cells via diffusion or advection, enabled by integrated valves and pumps. Tools, which both enable a repeatable and systematic means of single embryo culture, as well as provide information on metabolic activity of individual embryos, would be of significant utility to the embryologist. To address the need of controlled culture environments and improve embryo health and subsequent positive implantation rates, we have developed programmable microfluidic devices for quantifying metabolite levels in the culture media. Our microfluidic platform provides a high throughput, accurate and repeatable means to non-invasively assess embryo viability, which should be of significant utility to the clinical embryologist.