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Hu Y, Wen HY, Liu MY, Wang JM, Dong RL, Liu SL, Wang ZG. In Situ Quantitative Imaging of Plasma Membrane Stiffness in Live Cells Using a Genetically Encoded FRET Sensor. Anal Chem 2024; 96:8501-8509. [PMID: 38717985 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c00433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Cell membrane stiffness is critical for cellular function, with cholesterol and sphingomyelin as pivot contributors. Current methods for measuring membrane stiffness are often invasive, ex situ, and slow in process, prompting the need for innovative techniques. Here, we present a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based protein sensor designed to address these challenges. The sensor consists of two fluorescent units targeting sphingomyelin and cholesterol, connected by a linker that responds to the proximity of these lipids. In rigid membranes, cholesterol and sphingomyelin are in close proximity, leading to an increased FRET signal. We utilized this sensor in combination with confocal microscopy to explore changes in plasma membrane stiffness under various conditions, including differences in osmotic pressure, the presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and variations in substrate stiffness. Furthermore, we explored the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on membrane stiffness and the distribution of ACE2 after attachment to the cell membrane. This tool offers substantial potential for future investigations in the field of mechanobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusi Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Research Centre for Analytical Sciences, College of Chemistry and School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P. R. China
| | - Hai-Yan Wen
- Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, P. R. China
| | - Meng-Yao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Research Centre for Analytical Sciences, College of Chemistry and School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P. R. China
| | - Juan-Mei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Research Centre for Analytical Sciences, College of Chemistry and School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P. R. China
| | - Ruo-Lan Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Research Centre for Analytical Sciences, College of Chemistry and School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P. R. China
| | - Shu-Lin Liu
- Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Research Centre for Analytical Sciences, College of Chemistry and School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P. R. China
| | - Zhi-Gang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Research Centre for Analytical Sciences, College of Chemistry and School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P. R. China
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Meyer D, Kort J, Chen CH, Zhao H, Yi X, Lai SY, Lu F, Yang WJ, Hsieh IC, Chiang CL, Chen WM, Huang JYJ, Camarillo D, Behr B. Development and evaluation of a usable blastocyst predictive model using the biomechanical properties of human oocytes. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0299602. [PMID: 38696439 PMCID: PMC11065297 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The purposes of this study were to determine whether biomechanical properties of mature oocytes could predict usable blastocyst formation better than morphological information or maternal factors, and to demonstrate the safety of the aspiration measurement procedure used to determine the biomechanical properties of oocytes. METHODS A prospective split cohort study was conducted with patients from two IVF clinics who underwent in vitro fertilization. Each patient's oocytes were randomly divided into a measurement group and a control group. The aspiration depth into a micropipette was measured, and the biomechanical properties were derived. Oocyte fertilization, day 3 morphology, and blastocyst development were observed and compared between measured and unmeasured cohorts. A predictive classifier was trained to predict usable blastocyst formation and compared to the predictions of four experienced embryologists. RESULTS 68 patients and their corresponding 1252 oocytes were included in the study. In the safety analyses, there was no significant difference between the cohorts for fertilization, while the day 3 and 5 embryo development were not negatively affected. Four embryologists predicted usable blastocyst development based on oocyte morphology with an average accuracy of 44% while the predictive classifier achieved an accuracy of 71%. Retaining the variables necessary for normal fertilization, only data from successfully fertilized oocytes were used, resulting in a classifier an accuracy of 81%. CONCLUSIONS To date, there is no standard guideline or technique to aid in the selection of oocytes that have a higher likelihood of developing into usable blastocysts, which are chosen for transfer or vitrification. This study provides a comprehensive workflow of extracting biomechanical properties and building a predictive classifier using these properties to predict mature oocytes' developmental potential. The classifier has greater accuracy in predicting the formation of usable blastocysts than the predictions provided by morphological information or maternal factors. The measurement procedure did not negatively affect embryo culture outcomes. While further analysis is necessary, this study shows the potential of using biomechanical properties of oocytes to predict embryo developmental outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Meyer
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Jonathan Kort
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Ching Hung Chen
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ton Yen General Hospital, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Taiwan IVF Group Center for Reproductive Medicine & Infertility, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Huan Zhao
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The 3rd Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaoling Yi
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The 3rd Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shin-Yu Lai
- Taiwan IVF Group Center for Reproductive Medicine & Infertility, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Farn Lu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ton Yen General Hospital, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Taiwan IVF Group Center for Reproductive Medicine & Infertility, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Wen Jui Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ton Yen General Hospital, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Taiwan IVF Group Center for Reproductive Medicine & Infertility, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - I-Chiao Hsieh
- Department of Data Science, Inti Taiwan, Inc., Zhubei City, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Li Chiang
- Department of Data Science, Inti Taiwan, Inc., Zhubei City, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Ming Chen
- Department of Data Science, Inti Taiwan, Inc., Zhubei City, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Jack Yu Jen Huang
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ton Yen General Hospital, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Taiwan IVF Group Center for Reproductive Medicine & Infertility, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - David Camarillo
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Barry Behr
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
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3
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Li M. Harnessing atomic force microscopy-based single-cell analysis to advance physical oncology. Microsc Res Tech 2024; 87:631-659. [PMID: 38053519 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.24467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Single-cell analysis is an emerging and promising frontier in the field of life sciences, which is expected to facilitate the exploration of fundamental laws of physiological and pathological processes. Single-cell analysis allows experimental access to cell-to-cell heterogeneity to reveal the distinctive behaviors of individual cells, offering novel opportunities to dissect the complexity of severe human diseases such as cancers. Among the single-cell analysis tools, atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a powerful and versatile one which is able to nondestructively image the fine topographies and quantitatively measure multiple mechanical properties of single living cancer cells in their native states under aqueous conditions with unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution. Over the past few decades, AFM has been widely utilized to detect the structural and mechanical behaviors of individual cancer cells during the process of tumor formation, invasion, and metastasis, yielding numerous unique insights into tumor pathogenesis from the biomechanical perspective and contributing much to the field of cancer mechanobiology. Here, the achievements of AFM-based analysis of single cancer cells to advance physical oncology are comprehensively summarized, and challenges and future perspectives are also discussed. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Achievements of AFM in characterizing the structural and mechanical behaviors of single cancer cells are summarized, and future directions are discussed. AFM is not only capable of visualizing cellular fine structures, but can also measure multiple cellular mechanical properties as well as cell-generated mechanical forces. There is still plenty of room for harnessing AFM-based single-cell analysis to advance physical oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
- Institutes for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Storti F, Bonfadini S, Bondelli G, Vurro V, Lanzani G, Criante L. Photocell-Based Optofluidic Device for Clogging-Free Cell Transit Time Measurements. BIOSENSORS 2024; 14:154. [PMID: 38667147 PMCID: PMC11047832 DOI: 10.3390/bios14040154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Measuring the transit time of a cell forced through a bottleneck is one of the most widely used techniques for the study of cell deformability in flow. It in turn provides an accessible and rapid way of obtaining crucial information regarding cell physiology. Many techniques are currently being investigated to reliably retrieve this time, but their translation to diagnostic-oriented devices is often hampered by their complexity, lack of robustness, and the bulky external equipment required. Herein, we demonstrate the benefits of coupling microfluidics with an optical method, like photocells, to measure the transit time. We exploit the femtosecond laser irradiation followed by chemical etching (FLICE) fabrication technique to build a monolithic 3D device capable of detecting cells flowing through a 3D non-deformable constriction which is fully buried in a fused silica substrate. We validated our chip by measuring the transit times of pristine breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and MCF-7 cells treated with Latrunculin A, a drug typically used to increase their deformability. A difference in transit times can be assessed without the need for complex external instrumentation and/or demanding computational efforts. The high throughput (4000-10,000 cells/min), ease of use, and clogging-free operation of our device bring this approach much closer to real scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Storti
- Centre for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Rubattino 81, 20134 Milano, Italy; (F.S.); (S.B.); (G.B.); (V.V.); (G.L.)
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Silvio Bonfadini
- Centre for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Rubattino 81, 20134 Milano, Italy; (F.S.); (S.B.); (G.B.); (V.V.); (G.L.)
| | - Gaia Bondelli
- Centre for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Rubattino 81, 20134 Milano, Italy; (F.S.); (S.B.); (G.B.); (V.V.); (G.L.)
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Vito Vurro
- Centre for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Rubattino 81, 20134 Milano, Italy; (F.S.); (S.B.); (G.B.); (V.V.); (G.L.)
| | - Guglielmo Lanzani
- Centre for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Rubattino 81, 20134 Milano, Italy; (F.S.); (S.B.); (G.B.); (V.V.); (G.L.)
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Luigino Criante
- Centre for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Rubattino 81, 20134 Milano, Italy; (F.S.); (S.B.); (G.B.); (V.V.); (G.L.)
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Li SS, Xue CD, Li YJ, Chen XM, Zhao Y, Qin KR. Microfluidic characterization of single-cell biophysical properties and the applications in cancer diagnosis. Electrophoresis 2023. [PMID: 37909658 DOI: 10.1002/elps.202300177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Single-cell biophysical properties play a crucial role in regulating cellular physiological states and functions, demonstrating significant potential in the fields of life sciences and clinical diagnostics. Therefore, over the last few decades, researchers have developed various detection tools to explore the relationship between the biophysical changes of biological cells and human diseases. With the rapid advancement of modern microfabrication technology, microfluidic devices have quickly emerged as a promising platform for single-cell analysis offering advantages including high-throughput, exceptional precision, and ease of manipulation. Consequently, this paper provides an overview of the recent advances in microfluidic analysis and detection systems for single-cell biophysical properties and their applications in the field of cancer. The working principles and latest research progress of single-cell biophysical property detection are first analyzed, highlighting the significance of electrical and mechanical properties. The development of data acquisition and processing methods for real-time, high-throughput, and practical applications are then discussed. Furthermore, the differences in biophysical properties between tumor and normal cells are outlined, illustrating the potential for utilizing single-cell biophysical properties for tumor cell identification, classification, and drug response assessment. Lastly, we summarize the limitations of existing microfluidic analysis and detection systems in single-cell biophysical properties, while also pointing out the prospects and future directions of their applications in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan-Shan Li
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning, P. R. China
| | - Chun-Dong Xue
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning, P. R. China
| | - Yong-Jiang Li
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning, P. R. China
| | - Xiao-Ming Chen
- School of Optoelectronic Engineering and Instrumentation Science, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning, P. R. China
| | - Yan Zhao
- Department of Stomach Surgery, Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, Liaoning, P. R. China
| | - Kai-Rong Qin
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning, P. R. China
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6
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Kang S, Song Z, Yang X, Li Y, Wu H, Li T. A Rate-Dependent Cell Microinjection Model Based on Membrane Theory. J Biomech Eng 2023; 145:1163159. [PMID: 37216310 DOI: 10.1115/1.4062422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
As an effective method to deliver external materials into biological cells, microinjection has been widely applied in the biomedical field. However, the knowledge of cell mechanical property is still inadequate, which greatly limits the efficiency and success rate of injection. Thus, a new rate-dependent mechanical model based on membrane theory is proposed for the first time. In this model, an analytical equilibrium equation between the injection force and cell deformation is established by considering the speed effect of microinjection. Different from the traditional membrane-theory-based model, the elastic coefficient of the constitutive material in the proposed model is modified as a function of the injection velocity and acceleration, effectively simulating the influence of speeds on the mechanical responses and providing a more generalized and practical model. Using this model, other mechanical responses at different speeds can be also accurately predicted, including the distribution of membrane tension and stress and the deformed shape. To verify the validity of the model, numerical simulations and experiments were carried out. The results show that the proposed model can match the real mechanical responses well at different injection speeds up to 2 mm/s. The model presented in this paper will be promising in the application of automatic batch cell microinjection with high efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengzheng Kang
- School of Automation, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
| | - Zhicheng Song
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China
| | - Xiaolong Yang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China
| | - Yao Li
- School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Nanjing Institute of Technology, Nanjing 211167, China
| | - Hongtao Wu
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China
| | - Tao Li
- School of Automation, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
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7
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Yuan Y, Ma D, Liu X, Tang T, Li M, Yang Y, Yalikun Y, Tanaka Y. 10 μm thick ultrathin glass sheet to realize a highly sensitive cantilever for precise cell stiffness measurement. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:3651-3661. [PMID: 37449439 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00113j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
The micro-cantilever-based sensor platform has become a promising technique in the sensing area for physical, chemical and biological detection due to its portability, small size, label-free characteristics and good compatibility with "lab-on-a-chip" devices. However, traditional micro-cantilever methods are limited by their complicated fabrication, manipulation and detection, and low sensitivity. In this research, we proposed a 10 μm thick ultrathin, highly sensitive, and flexible glass cantilever integrated with a strain gauge sensor and presented its application for the measurement of single-cell mechanical properties. Compared to conventional methods, the proposed ultrathin glass sheet (UTGS)-based cantilever is easier to fabricate, has better physical and chemical properties, and shows a high linear relationship between resistance change and applied small force or displacement. The sensitivity of the cantilever is 15 μN μm-1 and the minimum detectable displacement at the current development stage is 500 nm, which is sufficient for cell stiffness measurement. The cantilever also possesses excellent optical transparency that supports real-time observation during measurement. We first calibrated the cantilever by measuring the Young's modulus of PDMS with known specific stiffness, and then we demonstrated the measurement of Xenopus oocytes and fertilized eggs in different statuses. By further optimizing the UTGS-based cantilever, we can extend its applicability to various measurements of different cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yapeng Yuan
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
| | - Doudou Ma
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
| | - Xun Liu
- Graduate School of Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Nara 630-0192, Japan.
| | - Tao Tang
- Graduate School of Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Nara 630-0192, Japan.
| | - Ming Li
- School of Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, 2109, Australia
| | - Yang Yang
- Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, Hainan, 572000, P. R. China
| | - Yaxiaer Yalikun
- Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
- Graduate School of Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Nara 630-0192, Japan.
| | - Yo Tanaka
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
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8
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Palay P, Fathi D, Fathi R. Oocyte quality evaluation: a review of engineering approaches toward clinical challenges. Biol Reprod 2023; 108:393-407. [PMID: 36495197 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Although assisted reproductive technology has been very successful for the treatment of infertility, its steps are still dependent on direct human opinion. An important step of assisted reproductive treatments in lab for women is choosing an oocyte that has a better quality. This step would predict which oocyte has developmental competence leading to healthy baby. Observation of the oocyte morphological quality indicators under microscope by an embryologist is the most common evaluation method of oocyte quality. Such subjective method which relies on embryologist's experience may vary and leads to misdiagnosis. An alternative solution to eliminate human misjudging in traditional methods and overcome the limitations of them is always using engineering-based procedure. In this review article, we deeply study and categorize engineering-based methods applied for the evaluation of oocyte quality. Then, the challenges in laboratories and clinics settings move forward with translational medicine perspective in mind for all those methods which had been studied were discussed. Finally, a standardized process was presented, which may help improving and focusing the research in this field. Moreover, effective suggestion techniques were introduced that are expected they would be complementary methods to accelerate future researches. The aim of this review was to create a new prospect with the engineering approaches to evaluate oocyte quality and we hope this would help infertile couples to get a baby.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peyman Palay
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University (TMU), Tehran, Iran
| | - Davood Fathi
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University (TMU), Tehran, Iran
| | - Rouhollah Fathi
- Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran
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Hu S, Liu T, Xue C, Li Y, Yang Y, Xu X, Liu B, Chen X, Zhao Y, Qin K. A high-throughput microfluidic device inspired by the Wheatstone bridge principle for characterizing the mechanical properties of single cells. ANALYTICAL METHODS : ADVANCING METHODS AND APPLICATIONS 2022; 14:4813-4821. [PMID: 36382629 DOI: 10.1039/d2ay01416e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The mechanical properties of single cells have been recognized as biomarkers for identifying individual cells and diagnosing human diseases. Microfluidic devices based on the flow cytometry principle, which are not limited by the vision field of a microscope and can achieve a very high throughput, have been extensively adopted to measure the mechanical properties of single cells. However, these kinds of microfluidic devices usually required pressure-driven pumps with a very low flow rate and high precision. In this study, we developed a high-throughput microfluidic device inspired by the Wheatstone bridge principle for characterizing the mechanical properties of single cells. The microfluidic analogue of the Wheatstone bridge not only took advantage of flow cytometry, but also allowed precise control of a very low flow rate through the constricted channel with a higher input flow rate generated by a commercially available pressure-driven pump. Under different input flow rates of the pump, the apparent elastic moduli and the fluidity of osteosarcoma (U-2OS) cells and cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cells were measured by monitoring their dynamic deformations passing through the bridge-channel with different sizes of rectangular constrictions. The results showed that the input flow rate had little effect on measuring the mechanical properties of the cells, while the ratio of cell radius to effective constriction radius was different, i.e., for U-2OS cells it was 1.20 and for HeLa cells it was 1.09. Under this condition compared with predecessors, our statistic results of cell mechanical properties exhibited minimal errors. Furthermore, the cell viability after measurements was kept above 90% that demonstrated the non-destructive property of our proposed method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyu Hu
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Tianmian Liu
- DUT-BSU Joint Institute, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Chundong Xue
- School of Optoelectronic Engineering and Instrumentation Science, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, Liaoning Province, China.
| | - Yongjiang Li
- School of Optoelectronic Engineering and Instrumentation Science, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, Liaoning Province, China.
| | - Yunong Yang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Xing Xu
- Department of Endoscopy, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, 110042, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Bo Liu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Xiaoming Chen
- School of Optoelectronic Engineering and Instrumentation Science, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, Liaoning Province, China.
| | - Yan Zhao
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, Liaoning Province, China
- Department of Gastric Cancer, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Shenyang, 110042, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Kairong Qin
- School of Optoelectronic Engineering and Instrumentation Science, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, Liaoning Province, China.
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, Liaoning Province, China
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10
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Symons HE, Galanti A, Surmon JC, Trask RS, Rochat S, Gobbo P. Automated analysis of soft material microindentation. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:8302-8314. [PMID: 36286486 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm00857b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
An understanding of the mechanical properties of soft hydrogel materials over multiple length scales is important for their application in many fields. Typical measurement methods provide either bulk mechanical properties (compression, tensile, rheology) or probing of nano or microscale properties and heterogeneity (nanoindentation, AFM). In this work we demonstrate the complementarity of instrumented microindentation to these techniques, as it provides representative Young's moduli for soft materials with minimal influence of the experimental parameters chosen, and allows mechanical property mapping across macroscopic areas. To enable automated analysis of the large quantities of data required for these measurements, we develop a new fitting algorithm to process indentation data. This method allows for the determination of Young's moduli from imperfect data by automatic selection of a region of the indentation curve which does not display inelastic deformation or substrate effects. We demonstrate the applicability of our approach with a range of hydrogels, including materials with patterns and gradients in stiffness, and expect the techniques described here to be useful developments for the mechanical analysis of a wide range of soft and biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry E Symons
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Agostino Galanti
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Giorgieri 1, 34127, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Joseph C Surmon
- Department of Aerospace Engineering and Bristol Composites Institute, School of Civil, Aerospace, and Mechanical Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TR, UK
| | - Richard S Trask
- Department of Aerospace Engineering and Bristol Composites Institute, School of Civil, Aerospace, and Mechanical Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TR, UK
| | - Sebastien Rochat
- School of Chemistry, Department of Engineering Mathematics, and Bristol Composites Institute, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Pierangelo Gobbo
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Giorgieri 1, 34127, Trieste, Italy.
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11
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Su Z, Chen Z, Ma K, Chen H, Ho JWK. Molecular determinants of intrinsic cellular stiffness in health and disease. Biophys Rev 2022; 14:1197-1209. [PMID: 36345276 PMCID: PMC9636357 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-022-00997-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the role of intrinsic biophysical features, especially cellular stiffness, in diverse cellular and disease processes is being increasingly recognized. New high throughput techniques for the quantification of cellular stiffness facilitate the study of their roles in health and diseases. In this review, we summarized recent discovery about how cellular stiffness is involved in cell stemness, tumorigenesis, and blood diseases. In addition, we review the molecular mechanisms underlying the gene regulation of cellular stiffness in health and disease progression. Finally, we discussed the current understanding on how the cytoskeleton structure and the regulation of these genes contribute to cellular stiffness, highlighting where the field of cellular stiffness is headed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zezhuo Su
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health Limited (D24H), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, SAR China
| | - Zhenlin Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR China
| | - Kun Ma
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health Limited (D24H), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, SAR China
| | - Huaying Chen
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518055 China
| | - Joshua W. K. Ho
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health Limited (D24H), Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, SAR China
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12
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Xu D, Zhang N, Wang S, Zhang P, Li Y, Yang H. A method for generating dynamic compression shear coupled stress loading on living cells. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:1002661. [PMID: 36213067 PMCID: PMC9532543 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1002661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in the mechanical properties of single cells are related to the physiological state and fate of cells. The construction of cell constitutive equations is essential for understanding the material characteristics of single cells. With the help of atomic force microscopy, bio-image processing algorithms, and other technologies, research investigating the mechanical properties of cells during static/quasi-static processes has developed rapidly. A series of equivalent models, such as viscoelastic models, have been proposed to describe the constitutive behaviors of cells. The stress-strain relations under dynamic processes are essential to completing the constitutive equations of living cells. To explore the dynamic mechanical properties of cells, we propose a novel method to generate a controllable dynamical compression shear coupling stress on living cells. A CFD model was established to visualize this method and display the theories, as well as assess the scope of the application. As the requirements or limitations are met, researchers can adjust the details of this model according to their lab environment or experimental demands. This micro-flow channel-based method is a new tool for approaching the dynamic mechanical properties of cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dasen Xu
- School of Aeronautics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
- Center of Special Environmental Biomechanics; Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Nu Zhang
- Center of Special Environmental Biomechanics; Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
- School of Life Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Sijie Wang
- Center of Special Environmental Biomechanics; Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
- School of Life Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Pan Zhang
- Center of Special Environmental Biomechanics; Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
- School of Life Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yulong Li
- Center of Special Environmental Biomechanics; Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
- School of Civil Aviation, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Impact Dynamic and Its Engineering Application, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Yulong Li, ; Hui Yang,
| | - Hui Yang
- Center of Special Environmental Biomechanics; Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
- School of Life Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Yulong Li, ; Hui Yang,
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13
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Yallew TS, Belfiore NP, Bagolini A, Pantano MF. Performance Analysis of a CSFH-Based Microgripper: Analytical Modeling and Simulation. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:1391. [PMID: 36144014 PMCID: PMC9502756 DOI: 10.3390/mi13091391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Microgrippers are promising tools for micro-manipulation and characterization of cells. In this paper, a biocompatible electro-thermally actuated microgripper with rotary capacitive position sensor is presented. To overcome the limited displacement possibilities usually provided by electrothermal actuators and to achieve the desired tweezers output displacement, conjugate surface flexure hinges (CSFH) are adopted. The microgripper herein reported can in principle manipulate biological samples in the size range between 15 and 120 µm. A kinematics modeling approach based on the pseudo-rigid-body-method (PRBM) is applied to describe the microgripper's working mechanism, and analytical modeling, based on finite elements method (FEM), is used to optimize the electrothermal actuator design and the heat dissipation mechanism. Finally, FEM-based simulations are carried out to verify the microgripper, the electrothermal actuator and heat dissipation mechanism performance, and to assess the validity of the analytical modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teferi Sitotaw Yallew
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
- Micro Nano Facility, Fondazione Bruno Kessler, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | | | - Alvise Bagolini
- Micro Nano Facility, Fondazione Bruno Kessler, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Maria F. Pantano
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
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14
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Li Z, Guo X, Qin J, Guan Y, Li J, Guo H, Zhang B, Zhang M, Tang J. Size-effect on the intracellular antioxidative activity of Prussian blue nanoparticles investigated by atomic force microscopy. Anal Chim Acta 2022; 1227:340321. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2022.340321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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15
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Chen Y, Guo K, Jiang L, Zhu S, Ni Z, Xiang N. Microfluidic deformability cytometry: A review. Talanta 2022; 251:123815. [DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2022.123815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Revised: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
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16
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Xu D, Zhang N, Wang S, Yu Y, Zhang P, Li Y, Yang H. A Novel In Vitro Platform Development in the Lab for Modeling Blast Injury to Microglia. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:883545. [PMID: 35903797 PMCID: PMC9315251 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.883545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI), which is mainly caused by impact, often results in chronic neurological abnormalities. Since the pathological changes in vivo during primary biomechanical injury are quite complicated, the in-depth understanding of the pathophysiology and mechanism of TBI depends on the establishment of an effective experimental in vitro model. Usually, a bomb explosive blast was employed to establish the in vitro model, while the process is complex and unsuitable in the lab. Based on water-hammer, we have developed a device system to provide a single dynamic compression stress on living cells. A series of amplitude (∼5.3, ∼9.8, ∼13.5 MPa) were generated to explore the effects of dynamic compression loading on primary microglia within 48 h. Apoptosis experiments indicated that primary microglia had strong tolerance to blast waves. In addition, the generation of intercellular reactive oxygen species and secretory nitric oxide was getting strongly enhanced and recovered within 48 h. In addition, there is a notable release of pro-inflammatory cytokine by microglia. Our work provides a reproducible and peaceable method of loading single dynamic compression forces to cells in vitro. Microglia showed an acute inflammatory response to dynamic loadings, while no significant cell death was observed. This insight delivers a new technological approach that could open new areas to a better understanding of the mechanism of cell blast injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dasen Xu
- School of Aeronautics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
- Center of Special Environmental Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Nu Zhang
- Center of Special Environmental Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Sijie Wang
- Center of Special Environmental Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yawei Yu
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Pan Zhang
- Center of Special Environmental Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yulong Li
- School of Aeronautics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
- Center of Special Environmental Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Yulong Li, ; Hui Yang,
| | - Hui Yang
- Center of Special Environmental Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Yulong Li, ; Hui Yang,
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17
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Hu Q, Wang Z, Shen L, Zhao G. Label-Free and Noninvasive Single-Cell Characterization for the Viscoelastic Properties of Cryopreserved Human Red Blood Cells Using a Dielectrophoresis-On-a-Chip Approach. Anal Chem 2022; 94:10245-10255. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c01858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Hu
- Department of Electronic Engineering and Information Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Zirui Wang
- Department of Electronic Engineering and Information Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Lingxiao Shen
- Department of Electronic Engineering and Information Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Gang Zhao
- Department of Electronic Engineering and Information Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
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18
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Automated measurement of cell mechanical properties using an integrated dielectrophoretic microfluidic device. iScience 2022; 25:104275. [PMID: 35602969 PMCID: PMC9114521 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell mechanics is closely related to and interacts with cellular functions, which has the potential to be an effective biomarker to indicate disease onset and progression. Although several techniques have been developed for measuring cell mechanical properties, the issues of limited measurement data and biological significance because of complex and labor-intensive manipulation remain to be addressed, especially for the dielectrophoresis-based approach that is difficult to utilize flow measurement techniques. In this work, a dielectrophoresis-based solution is proposed to automatically obtain mass cellular mechanical data by combining a designed microfluidic device integrated the functions of cell capture, dielectrophoretic stretching, and cell release and an automatic control scheme. Experiments using human umbilical vein endothelial cells and breast cells revealed the automation capability of this device. The proposed method provides an effective way to address the low-throughput problem of dielectrophoresis-based cell mechanical property measurements, which enhance the biostatistical significance for cellular mechanism studies. Cell capture, dielectrophoretic stretching, and release in one microfluidic chip Automatic measurement scheme to realize circularly measurement Automatic acquisition of large amounts of cell mechanical properties data Significant advances in dielectrophoretic measurement of cell mechanical properties
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19
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Ionizing radiation-induced DNA damage responses affect cell compressibility. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2022; 603:116-122. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.03.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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20
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Anggraini D, Ota N, Shen Y, Tang T, Tanaka Y, Hosokawa Y, Li M, Yalikun Y. Recent advances in microfluidic devices for single-cell cultivation: methods and applications. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:1438-1468. [PMID: 35274649 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc01030a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Single-cell analysis is essential to improve our understanding of cell functionality from cellular and subcellular aspects for diagnosis and therapy. Single-cell cultivation is one of the most important processes in single-cell analysis, which allows the monitoring of actual information of individual cells and provides sufficient single-cell clones and cell-derived products for further analysis. The microfluidic device is a fast-rising system that offers efficient, effective, and sensitive single-cell cultivation and real-time single-cell analysis conducted either on-chip or off-chip. Here, we introduce the importance of single-cell cultivation from the aspects of cellular and subcellular studies. We highlight the materials and structures utilized in microfluidic devices for single-cell cultivation. We further discuss biological applications utilizing single-cell cultivation-based microfluidics, such as cellular phenotyping, cell-cell interactions, and omics profiling. Finally, present limitations and future prospects of microfluidics for single-cell cultivation are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dian Anggraini
- Division of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Nara 630-0192, Japan.
| | - Nobutoshi Ota
- Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yigang Shen
- Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Tao Tang
- Division of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Nara 630-0192, Japan.
| | - Yo Tanaka
- Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yoichiroh Hosokawa
- Division of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Nara 630-0192, Japan.
| | - Ming Li
- School of Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney 2122, Australia.
| | - Yaxiaer Yalikun
- Division of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Nara 630-0192, Japan.
- Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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21
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Vicar T, Chmelik J, Navratil J, Kolar R, Chmelikova L, Cmiel V, Jagos J, Provaznik I, Masarik M, Gumulec J. Cancer Cells Viscoelasticity Measurement by Quantitative Phase and Flow Stress Induction. Biophys J 2022; 121:1632-1642. [PMID: 35390297 PMCID: PMC9117928 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell viscoelastic properties are affected by the cell cycle, differentiation, pathological processes such as malignant transformation. Therefore, evaluation of the mechanical properties of the cells proved to be an approach to obtaining information on the functional state of the cells. Most of the currently used methods for cell mechanophenotypisation are limited by low robustness or the need for highly expert operation. In this paper, the system and method for viscoelasticity measurement using shear stress induction by fluid flow is described and tested. Quantitative Phase Imaging (QPI) is used for image acquisition because this technique enables to quantify optical path length delays introduced by the sample, thus providing a label-free objective measure of morphology and dynamics. Viscosity and elasticity determination were refined using a new approach based on the linear system model and parametric deconvolution. The proposed method allows high-throughput measurements during live cell experiments and even through a time-lapse, where we demonstrated the possibility of simultaneous extraction of shear modulus, viscosity, cell morphology, and QPI-derived cell parameters like circularity or cell mass. Additionally, the proposed method provides a simple approach to measure cell refractive index with the same setup, which is required for reliable cell height measurement with QPI, an essential parameter for viscoelasticity calculation. Reliability of the proposed viscoelasticity measurement system was tested in several experiments including cell types of different Young/shear modulus and treatment with cytochalasin D or docetaxel, and an agreement with atomic force microscopy was observed. The applicability of the proposed approach was also confirmed by a time-lapse experiment with cytochalasin D washout, where an increase of stiffness corresponded to actin repolymerisation in time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomas Vicar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communications, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Pathological Physiology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Chmelik
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communications, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Navratil
- Department of Pathological Physiology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Radim Kolar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communications, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Larisa Chmelikova
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communications, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vratislav Cmiel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communications, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Jagos
- Dept. of Tissue Biomechanics and Numerical Modelling in Medicine, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ivo Provaznik
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communications, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Masarik
- Department of Pathological Physiology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jaromir Gumulec
- Department of Pathological Physiology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
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22
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Sheikhhassani V, Evers TMJ, Lamba S, Shokri F, Mashaghi A. Single cell force spectroscopy of erythrocytes at physiological and febrile temperatures reveals mechano-modulatory effects of atorvastatin. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:2143-2148. [PMID: 35201243 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm01715b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
RBCs are mechanically active cells and constantly deform as they circulate through vasculature. Their mechanical properties can be significantly altered by various pathophysiological conditions, and the alterations in RBC mechanics can, in turn, have functional consequences. Although numerous mechanical studies have been conducted on RBCs, surprisingly, strain-rate and temperature dependent mechanics of RBCs have not been systematically examined, and current data is primarily based on measurements at room temperature. Here, we have used state-of-the-art single-cell optical tweezers to probe atorvastatin-induced changes of RBC mechanics and its strain-rate dependency at physiologically and medically relevant temperatures. Our data indicate that RBC mechanics is strain-rate and temperature dependent, and atorvastatin treatment softens RBCs at physiological temperature, but not at febrile temperature. The observed mechanical change is a notable side effect of the drug in some therapeutic applications. However, the mechano-modulatory effects of atorvastatin on erythrocytes at physiological temperature might offer new therapeutic possibilities for diseases related to blood cell mechanics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahid Sheikhhassani
- Medical Systems Biophysics and Bioengineering, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Faculty of Science, Leiden University, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Tom M J Evers
- Medical Systems Biophysics and Bioengineering, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Faculty of Science, Leiden University, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Sanjeevani Lamba
- Medical Systems Biophysics and Bioengineering, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Faculty of Science, Leiden University, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Fereshteh Shokri
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Alireza Mashaghi
- Medical Systems Biophysics and Bioengineering, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Faculty of Science, Leiden University, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands.
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23
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Hang X, He S, Dong Z, Li Y, Huang Z, Zhang Y, Sun H, Lin L, Li H, Wang Y, Liu B, Wu N, Ren T, Fan Y, Lou J, Yang R, Jiang L, Chang L. High-Throughput DNA Tensioner Platform for Interrogating Mechanical Heterogeneity of Single Living Cells. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2106196. [PMID: 35322558 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202106196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Cell mechanical forces play fundamental roles in regulating cellular responses to environmental stimulations. The shortcomings of conventional methods, including force resolution and cellular throughput, make them less accessible to mechanical heterogeneity at the single-cell level. Here, a DNA tensioner platform is introduced with high throughput (>10 000 cells per chip) and pN-level resolution. A microfluidic-based cell array is trapped on "hairpin-structured" DNA tensioners that enable transformation of the mechanical information of living cells into fluorescence signals. By using the platform, one can identify enhanced mechanical forces of drug-resistant cells as compared to their drug-sensitive counterparts, and mechanical differences between metastatic tumor cells in pleural effusion and nonmetastatic histiocytes. Further genetic analysis traces two genes, VEGFA and MINK1, that may play deterministic roles in regulating mechanical heterogeneities. In view of the ubiquity of cells' mechanical forces in the extracellular microenvironment (ECM), this platform shows wide potential to establish links of cellular mechanical heterogeneity to genetic heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinxin Hang
- Key Laboratory of Biomechanics and Mechanobiology, Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, No. 37 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Shiqi He
- Key Laboratory of Biomechanics and Mechanobiology, Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, No. 37 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Zaizai Dong
- Key Laboratory of Biomechanics and Mechanobiology, Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, No. 37 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yun Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, and China National Center for Bioinformation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Zheng Huang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, and China National Center for Bioinformation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yanruo Zhang
- Key Laboratory of RNA Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 15 Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Hong Sun
- Key Laboratory of Biomechanics and Mechanobiology, Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, No. 37 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Long Lin
- Key Laboratory of Biomechanics and Mechanobiology, Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, No. 37 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Hu Li
- Key Laboratory of Biomechanics and Mechanobiology, Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, No. 37 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Biomechanics and Mechanobiology, Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, No. 37 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Bing Liu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research of Ministry of Education, Department of Thoracic Surgery II, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No. 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Nan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research of Ministry of Education, Department of Thoracic Surgery II, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No. 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Tianling Ren
- Beijing National Research Center for Information Science and Technology (BNRist), Institute of Microelectronics, Tsinghua University, No. 30 Shuangqing Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Yubo Fan
- Key Laboratory of Biomechanics and Mechanobiology, Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, No. 37 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Jizhong Lou
- Key Laboratory of RNA Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 15 Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Ruiguo Yang
- Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA
| | - Lan Jiang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, and China National Center for Bioinformation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
- College of Future Technology, and Sino-Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19(A) Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Lingqian Chang
- Key Laboratory of Biomechanics and Mechanobiology, Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, No. 37 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, China
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Research and Engineering Center of Biomedical Materials, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, China
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24
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Le PH, Nguyen DHK, Medina AA, Linklater DP, Loebbe C, Crawford RJ, MacLaughlin S, Ivanova EP. Surface Architecture Influences the Rigidity of Candida albicans Cells. NANOMATERIALS 2022; 12:nano12030567. [PMID: 35159912 PMCID: PMC8840568 DOI: 10.3390/nano12030567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to investigate the morphology and rigidity of the opportunistic pathogenic yeast, Candida albicans ATCC 10231, during its attachment to surfaces of three levels of nanoscale surface roughness. Non-polished titanium (npTi), polished titanium (pTi), and glass with respective average surface roughness (Sa) values of 389 nm, 14 nm, and 2 nm, kurtosis (Skur) values of 4, 16, and 4, and skewness (Sskw) values of 1, 4, and 1 were used as representative examples of each type of nanoarchitecture. Thus, npTi and glass surfaces exhibited similar Sskw and Skur values but highly disparate Sa. C. albicans cells that had attached to the pTi surfaces exhibited a twofold increase in rigidity of 364 kPa compared to those yeast cells attached to the surfaces of npTi (164 kPa) and glass (185 kPa). The increased rigidity of the C. albicans cells on pTi was accompanied by a distinct round morphology, condensed F-actin distribution, lack of cortical actin patches, and the negligible production of cell-associated polymeric substances; however, an elevated production of loose extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) was observed. The differences in the physical response of C. albicans cells attached to the three surfaces suggested that the surface nanoarchitecture (characterized by skewness and kurtosis), rather than average surface roughness, could directly influence the rigidity of the C. albicans cells. This work contributes to the next-generation design of antifungal surfaces by exploiting surface architecture to control the extent of biofilm formation undertaken by yeast pathogens and highlights the importance of performing a detailed surface roughness characterization in order to identify and discriminate between the surface characteristics that may influence the extent of cell attachment and the subsequent behavior of the attached cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phuc H. Le
- STEM College, School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; (P.H.L.); (D.H.K.N.); (A.A.M.); (D.P.L.); (R.J.C.)
- ARC Research Hub for Australian Steel Manufacturing, STEM College, School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Duy H. K. Nguyen
- STEM College, School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; (P.H.L.); (D.H.K.N.); (A.A.M.); (D.P.L.); (R.J.C.)
| | - Arturo Aburto Medina
- STEM College, School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; (P.H.L.); (D.H.K.N.); (A.A.M.); (D.P.L.); (R.J.C.)
- ARC Research Hub for Australian Steel Manufacturing, STEM College, School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Denver P. Linklater
- STEM College, School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; (P.H.L.); (D.H.K.N.); (A.A.M.); (D.P.L.); (R.J.C.)
| | | | - Russell J. Crawford
- STEM College, School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; (P.H.L.); (D.H.K.N.); (A.A.M.); (D.P.L.); (R.J.C.)
| | | | - Elena P. Ivanova
- STEM College, School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; (P.H.L.); (D.H.K.N.); (A.A.M.); (D.P.L.); (R.J.C.)
- Correspondence:
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Sun W, Gao X, Lei H, Wang W, Cao Y. Biophysical Approaches for Applying and Measuring Biological Forces. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2105254. [PMID: 34923777 PMCID: PMC8844594 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202105254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decades, increasing evidence has indicated that mechanical loads can regulate the morphogenesis, proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of living cells. Investigations of how cells sense mechanical stimuli or the mechanotransduction mechanism is an active field of biomaterials and biophysics. Gaining a further understanding of mechanical regulation and depicting the mechanotransduction network inside cells require advanced experimental techniques and new theories. In this review, the fundamental principles of various experimental approaches that have been developed to characterize various types and magnitudes of forces experienced at the cellular and subcellular levels are summarized. The broad applications of these techniques are introduced with an emphasis on the difficulties in implementing these techniques in special biological systems. The advantages and disadvantages of each technique are discussed, which can guide readers to choose the most suitable technique for their questions. A perspective on future directions in this field is also provided. It is anticipated that technical advancement can be a driving force for the development of mechanobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxu Sun
- School of SciencesNantong UniversityNantong226019P. R. China
| | - Xiang Gao
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and IntegrationNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructureand Department of PhysicsCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced MicrostructuresNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- Institute of Brain ScienceNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
| | - Hai Lei
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and IntegrationNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructureand Department of PhysicsCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced MicrostructuresNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- Institute of Brain ScienceNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation CenterNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
| | - Wei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and IntegrationNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructureand Department of PhysicsCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced MicrostructuresNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- Institute of Brain ScienceNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
| | - Yi Cao
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and IntegrationNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructureand Department of PhysicsCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced MicrostructuresNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- Institute of Brain ScienceNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- MOE Key Laboratory of High Performance Polymer Materials and TechnologyDepartment of Polymer Science & EngineeringCollege of Chemistry & Chemical EngineeringNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation CenterNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
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Arduino A, Pettenuzzo S, Berardo A, Salomoni VA, Majorana C, Carniel EL. A Continuum-Tensegrity Computational Model for Chondrocyte Biomechanics in AFM Indentation and Micropipette Aspiration. Ann Biomed Eng 2022; 50:1911-1922. [PMID: 35879583 PMCID: PMC9794536 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-022-03011-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Mechanical stimuli are fundamental in the development of organs and tissues, their growth, regeneration or disease. They influence the biochemical signals produced by the cells, and, consequently, the development and spreading of a disease. Moreover, tumour cells are usually characterized by a decrease in the cell mechanical properties that may be directly linked to their metastatic potential. Thus, recently, the experimental and computational study of cell biomechanics is facing a growing interest. Various experimental approaches have been implemented to describe the passive response of cells; however, cell variability and complex experimental procedures may affect the obtained mechanical properties. For this reason, in-silico computational models have been developed through the years, to overcome such limitations, while proposing valuable tools to understand cell mechanical behaviour. This being the case, we propose a combined continuous-tensegrity finite element (FE) model to analyse the mechanical response of a cell and its subcomponents, observing how every part contributes to the overall mechanical behaviour. We modelled both Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) indentation and micropipette aspiration techniques, as common mechanical tests for cells and elucidated also the role of cell cytoplasm and cytoskeleton in the global cell mechanical response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Arduino
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Sofia Pettenuzzo
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Alice Berardo
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Padova, Padua, Italy.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padua, Italy.
| | | | - Carmelo Majorana
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
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Zhou Z, Chen Y, Zhu S, Liu L, Ni Z, Xiang N. Inertial microfluidics for high-throughput cell analysis and detection: a review. Analyst 2021; 146:6064-6083. [PMID: 34490431 DOI: 10.1039/d1an00983d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Since it was first proposed in 2007, inertial microfluidics has been extensively studied in terms of theory, design, fabrication, and application. In recent years, with the rapid development of microfabrication technologies, a variety of channel structures that can focus, concentrate, separate, and capture bioparticles or fluids have been designed and manufactured to extend the range of potential biomedical applications of inertial microfluidics. Due to the advantages of high throughput, simplicity, and low device cost, inertial microfluidics is a promising candidate for rapid sample processing, especially for large-volume samples with low-abundance targets. As an approach to cellular sample pretreatment, inertial microfluidics has been widely employed to ensure downstream cell analysis and detection. In this review, a comprehensive summary of the application of inertial microfluidics for high-throughput cell analysis and detection is presented. According to application areas, the recent advances can be sorted into label-free cell mechanical phenotyping, sheathless flow cytometric counting, electrical impedance cytometer, high-throughput cellular image analysis, and other methods. Finally, the challenges and prospects of inertial microfluidics for cell analysis and detection are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Zhou
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
| | - Yao Chen
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
| | - Shu Zhu
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
| | - Linbo Liu
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
| | - Zhonghua Ni
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
| | - Nan Xiang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
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Matsuzaki S. Mechanobiology of the female reproductive system. Reprod Med Biol 2021; 20:371-401. [PMID: 34646066 PMCID: PMC8499606 DOI: 10.1002/rmb2.12404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mechanobiology in the field of human female reproduction has been extremely challenging technically and ethically. METHODS The present review provides the current knowledge on mechanobiology of the female reproductive system. This review focuses on the early phases of reproduction from oocyte development to early embryonic development, with an emphasis on current progress. MAIN FINDINGS RESULTS Optimal, well-controlled mechanical cues are required for female reproductive system physiology. Many important questions remain unanswered; whether and how mechanical imbalances among the embryo, decidua, and uterine muscle contractions affect early human embryonic development, whether the biomechanical properties of oocytes/embryos are potential biomarkers for selecting high-quality oocytes/embryos, whether mechanical properties differ between the two major compartments of the ovary (cortex and medulla) in normally ovulating human ovaries, whether durotaxis is involved in several processes in addition to embryonic development. Progress in mechanobiology is dependent on development of technologies that enable precise physical measurements. CONCLUSION More studies are needed to understand the roles of forces and changes in the mechanical properties of female reproductive system physiology. Recent and future technological advancements in mechanobiology research will help us understand the role of mechanical forces in female reproductive system disorders/diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sachiko Matsuzaki
- CHU Clermont‐FerrandChirurgie GynécologiqueClermont‐FerrandFrance
- Université Clermont AuvergneInstitut Pascal, UMR6602, CNRS/UCA/SIGMAClermont‐FerrandFrance
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Wei M, Zhang F, Zhang R, Lin JM, Yang N. High-Throughput Characterization of Cell Adhesion Strength Using Long-Channel Constriction-Based Microfluidics. ACS Sens 2021; 6:2838-2844. [PMID: 34279900 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.1c01037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The adhesion strength of a cancer cell is a valuable biophysical marker of its metastatic potential, tightly associated with various metastatic processes; for example, cancer cells escape from a primary tumor, and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are anchored to the vessel wall. Although constriction-based microfluidics can realize the high-throughput characterization of single-cell deformability, due to the influence of cell size heterogeneity, accurately evaluating the adhesion strength of a cancer cell at high throughputs in constriction remains difficult. In this paper, we first proposed an approach for the assessment of adhesion strength of BGC-823 and SGC-7901 cell lines at high throughputs based on a friction coefficient using the constant velocity stage of cell transit in a long-channel constriction. Cell size was proven to be independent of adhesion strength by cell detachment assay; however, it has large effects on cell transit velocity in constriction. Therefore, the linear elasticity of a completely deformed cell in constriction is simplified as a compressed spring model, effectively reducing the influence of cell size heterogeneity. Theoretically, our proposed model can well offset the influence of cell size by cell transit velocity, while our experimental results indicate that the friction coefficient has a good linear relationship with the logarithm of the adhesion strength too. Therefore, our proposed approach can realize accurate characterization of cell adhesion strength at high throughputs using long-channel constriction-based microfluidics. Hence, this work might enrich the functions of constriction-based microfluidics and bring new insights into the characterization of mechanical phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingji Wei
- School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Fei Zhang
- School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Rongbiao Zhang
- School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Jin-Ming Lin
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Ning Yang
- School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
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Berghoff K, Gross W, Eisentraut M, Kress H. Using blinking optical tweezers to study cell rheology during initial cell-particle contact. Biophys J 2021; 120:3527-3537. [PMID: 34181902 PMCID: PMC8391049 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.04.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Phagocytosis is an important part of innate immunity and describes the engulfment of bacteria and other extracellular objects on the micrometer scale. The protrusion of the cell membrane around the bacteria during this process is driven by a reorganization of the actin cortex. The process has been studied on the molecular level to great extent during the past decades. However, a deep, fundamental understanding of the mechanics of the process is still lacking, in particular because of a lack of techniques that give access to binding dynamics below the optical resolution limit and cellular viscoelasticity at the same time. In this work, we propose a technique to characterize the mechanical properties of cells in a highly localized manner and apply it to investigate the early stages of phagocytosis. The technique can simultaneously resolve the contact region between a cell and an external object (in our application, a phagocytic target) even below the optical resolution limit. We used immunoglobulin-G-coated microparticles with a size of 2 μm as a model system and attached the particles to the macrophages with holographic optical tweezers. By switching the trap on and off, we were able to measure the rheological properties of the cells in a time-resolved manner during the first few minutes after attachment. The measured viscoelastic cellular response is consistent with power law rheology. The contact radius between particle and cell increased on a timescale of ∼30 s and converged after a few minutes. Although the binding dynamics are not affected by cytochalasin D, we observed an increase of the cellular compliance and a significant fluidization of the cortex after addition of cytochalasin D treatment. Furthermore, we report upper boundaries for the length- and timescale, at which cortical actin has been hypothesized to depolymerize during early phagocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konrad Berghoff
- Department of Physics, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Gross
- Department of Physics, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | | | - Holger Kress
- Department of Physics, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany.
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31
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Liu P, Liu H, Yuan D, Jang D, Yan S, Li M. Separation and Enrichment of Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by Shape Using Viscoelastic Microfluidics. Anal Chem 2020; 93:1586-1595. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c03990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ping Liu
- School of Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
- Suqian University, Suqian, 223800, China
| | - Hangrui Liu
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Dan Yuan
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Daniel Jang
- School of Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Sheng Yan
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Ming Li
- School of Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
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