| Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are a rare cell population in adult bone marrow, mobilized peripheral blood,
and umbilical cord blood possessing self-renewal and differentiation capability into a full spectrum of blood
cells. Bone marrow HSC transplantation has been considered as an ideal option for certain disorders treatment
including hematologic diseases, leukemia, immunodeficiency, bone marrow failure syndrome, genetic defects
such as thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, autoimmune disease, and certain solid cancers. Ex vivo proliferation of
these cells prior to transplantation has been proposed as a potential solution against limited number of stem
cells. In such culture process, MSCs have also been shown to exhibit high capacity for secretion of soluble
mediators contributing to the principle biological and therapeutic activities of HSCs. In addition, endothelial
cells have been introduced to bridge the blood and sub tissues in the bone marrow, as well as, HSCs regeneration
induction and survival. Cell culture in the laboratory environment requires cell growth strict control to protect
against contamination, symmetrical cell division and optimal conditions for maximum yield. In this regard,
microfluidic systems provide culture and analysis capabilities in micro volume scales. Moreover, two-dimensional
cultures cannot fully demonstrate extracellular matrix found in different tissues and organs as an abstract
representation of three dimensional cell structure. Microfluidic systems can also strongly describe the effects of
physical factors such as temperature and pressure on cell behavior. |