Abstract: A multi-compartment microfluidic device for enabling fluidic isolation among interconnected compartments and accomplishing centrifugal positioning and/or patterned substrate positioning of biological specimens. Includes micropatterned substrate coupled with optically transparent housing allowing imaging. Housing includes microfluidic region having entry reservoir for accepting first volume of fluid and additional microfluidic region(s) having a second entry reservoir for accepting second volume of fluid less than first volume of fluid to create hydrostatic pressure. A barrier region that couples the microfluidic region with the second microfluidic region enables biological specimen(s) to extend across the microfluidic, barrier region and second microfluidic region. The barrier region includes embedded microgroove(s) having width and height enabling second volume of fluid to be fluidically isolated from first volume of fluid via hydrostatic pressure maintained via the embedded microgroove(s).

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a device that combines microfabrication, microfluidic, and surface micropatterning techniques to create a multi-compartment neuronal culturing device that has application across a number of different neuroscience uses. Devices configured in accordance with the invention allow directed growth of neurites and isolation of neurites from their cell bodies. The device can use hydrostatic pressure to isolate insults to one compartment and, thus, expose localized areas of neurons to insults. Due to the high resistance of the microgrooves for fluid transport, insults are contained in the neuritic compartment without appreciable leakage into the somal compartment for a certain period of time (e.g., over 15 h).