A high-throughput fully-automated microfluidic live cell array for combination drug treatment analysis of colorectal cancer cells

Combination chemotherapies play an important role in clinical cancer treatment. We have previously developed a microfluidic high-throughput drug screening platform and used it for the screening of prostate cancer sensitizing agents. We have further developed the system into a fully automated live cell array platform with uniform cell seeding for better control, and used the platform to investigate the gene expression regulation of colorectal cancer cells in response to combination cancer drug treatment. The results showed significant drug effects on the proliferation of the HCT116 colorectal cancer cells, demonstrating the potential of this microfluidic device as a high-throughput combination chemotherapeutic drug-screening platform.