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Table 2 Properties and benefits of cell culture in microfluidic devices [97]

From: Different approaches for transformation of mesenchymal stem cells into hepatocyte-like cells

Property of microfluidic systems

Benefit for cell culture

Small chip size and microchannels on the cellular length scale (5–500 μm)

-Reduced sample/reagent consumption

-Numerous cell coculture in a single device

-Faster transfer of cell culture medium and heat, i.e., short equilibration time

2D or 3D network and structure

-Simulating in vivo cell growth development

The feasibility to integrate multiple microfluidic devices on a chip

-Integrate with fluid handling operations for efficient and high-throughput cellular analysis

-Integrate with detection functionality for in situ monitoring of cellular events

-Integrate with functionality for temperature control of the cellular microenvironment etc.