When filling chambers with liquid, the bubbles can result in the cells dying prematurely and/or inhibiting the flow.
Possible solutions to air bubbles
- The chip design itself. By creating a design in which there are no sharp angles can reduce the chance of air bubbles adhering to the surface of the chamber.
- Adding soft surfacant to make sure the bubbles detach from the surface.
- Being highly aware of pressure levels when adding liquids to the chambers. Even the smallest changes in pressure can result in air bubbles.
Other resources regarding air bubbles
- Bubble Trap for Microfluidics Kit provided by Elveflow which gets rid of the air bubbles before they enter the chip.
- Air bubbles and microfluidics: Tips and tricks to remove them
- Methods & techniques for perfusion cell culture