SUMMARY

All postprandial lipid enters the circulation through the lymphatic system. Yet, very little is known about the fundamental mechanisms regulating the entry of chylomicrons into the lymphatic system and current in vitro models do not accurately represent the biophysical environment of the intestinal and lymphatic lumens. A high-throughput microfluidic device has been designed to improve upon our lab’s tissue-engineered model. This microfluidic device supports basal to apical studies and vice versa as well as allowing for two-cell layer environments via a porous membrane. Lymphatic endothelial cells (LEC) and breast cancer cells have been incorporated, separately, into the device. The LEC's were seeded similarly to the tissue-engineered model, but the breast cancer cells were suspended in a collagen cell. Cell viability, permeability, and migration have been the primary interests at this time. Overall, with this device, we can quantify lipid transport, manipulate biophysical forces like flow, and image migration making it an invaluable tool for studying the basic mechanisms of lymphatic transport.