A Simple, Cost-Effective Microfluidic Device Using a 3D Cross-Flow T-Junction for Producing Decellularized Extracellular Matrix-Derived Microcarriers

This work presents a low-cost, reusable 3D cross-flow T-junction microfluidic device for generating uniform decellularized adipose tissue (DAT)-based microcarriers (~200 µm diameter) for mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) culture and bioreactor expansion. The acrylic device, constructed by micro-milling a 500 × 500 µm continuous-phase channel and inserting a 34-gauge needle as a dispersed-phase inlet, produces monodisperse microbeads via cross-flow shearing in corn oil with lecithin surfactant. Subsequent photo-crosslinking with rose bengal yielded mechanically stable, biocompatible microcarriers (Young’s modulus 0.23 ± 0.05 kPa) that supported adipose-derived stromal cell attachment, growth, and ECM remodeling in spinner bioreactors for 14 days without loss of integrity. This platform provides a cost-effective route for scalable MSC expansion and injectable cell delivery applications.