Table 4.

Summary of microfluidic devices used to recreate the micro and nano spatial cues of the cell microenvironment.

Application	Polymer	Outcome	Ref
Create a microfabrication platform to study adult NSC fate	SU-8 photoresist material coated with poly-ornithine and laminin, placed on oxygen plasma treated glass coverslips	An array of microwells with dimensions that ranged from 20 to 500 µm in diameter and 10–500 µm in height.	[137]
Study the effects of 3D microenvironment for NSCs on self-renewal and differentiation	PDMS surface coated with COL I fabricated with a SU-8 pattern master. A COL I hydrogel was used as a cell carrier	3D collagen-coated microchannels of 140–160 μm height.	[138]
New fabrication approach to recreate stem cell niches using hydrogel engineering with droplet microfluidic technology	PDMS microfluidic bonded to glass coverslips using oxygen plasma. Chips were loaded with functionalized PEG hydrogels.	Microchannels array of 100 μm deep with three different channel widths of 100, 200, and 300 μm.	[139]
Generate a high-throughput platform to study the stem cell microenvironment with a tunable ratio of encapsulated species.	Cell-laden agarose microgels loaded into a functionalized PDMS surface.	An array of micro agarose gels of 70 to 110 µm.	[140]
Build functional networks that can be modified during the experiment to manipulate hMSC behavior in situ.	PDMS mount to cast crosslinked PED hydrogels	Artificial blood-vessel microfluidic network within cell-containing hydrogels. Channel diameter can be controlled in situ.	[141]
Create a two-layer microfluidic system to culture 3D multi-cell type spheroids to study cancer stem cell microenvironment.	PDMS device separated by a polycarbonate membrane and treated with 1% w/v Pluronic F108	A microfluidic system with a lower channel of 100 μm H and 2 mm in W, and a central microchannel of 200 μm H and 50 μm in W.	[142]