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Saupe M, Wiedemeier S, Gastrock G, Römer R, Lemke K. Flexible Toolbox of High-Precision Microfluidic Modules for Versatile Droplet-Based Applications. MICROMACHINES 2024; 15:250. [PMID: 38398978 PMCID: PMC10891953 DOI: 10.3390/mi15020250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Although the enormous potential of droplet-based microfluidics has been successfully demonstrated in the past two decades for medical, pharmaceutical, and academic applications, its inherent potential has not been fully exploited until now. Nevertheless, the cultivation of biological cells and 3D cell structures like spheroids and organoids, located in serially arranged droplets in micro-channels, has a range of benefits compared to established cultivation techniques based on, e.g., microplates and microchips. To exploit the enormous potential of the droplet-based cell cultivation technique, a number of basic functions have to be fulfilled. In this paper, we describe microfluidic modules to realize the following basic functions with high precision: (i) droplet generation, (ii) mixing of cell suspensions and cell culture media in the droplets, (iii) droplet content detection, and (iv) active fluid injection into serially arranged droplets. The robustness of the functionality of the Two-Fluid Probe is further investigated regarding its droplet generation using different flow rates. Advantages and disadvantages in comparison to chip-based solutions are discussed. New chip-based modules like the gradient, the piezo valve-based conditioning, the analysis, and the microscopy module are characterized in detail and their high-precision functionalities are demonstrated. These microfluidic modules are micro-machined, and as the surfaces of their micro-channels are plasma-treated, we are able to perform cell cultivation experiments using any kind of cell culture media, but without needing to use surfactants. This is even more considerable when droplets are used to investigate cell cultures like stem cells or cancer cells as cell suspensions, as 3D cell structures, or as tissue fragments over days or even weeks for versatile applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Saupe
- Institute for Bioprocessing and Analytical Measurement Techniques e.V., 37308 Heilbad Heiligenstadt, Germany; (S.W.); (G.G.); (R.R.); (K.L.)
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Microreaction Technologies, Technical University of Ilmenau, 98693 Ilmenau, Germany
| | - Stefan Wiedemeier
- Institute for Bioprocessing and Analytical Measurement Techniques e.V., 37308 Heilbad Heiligenstadt, Germany; (S.W.); (G.G.); (R.R.); (K.L.)
| | - Gunter Gastrock
- Institute for Bioprocessing and Analytical Measurement Techniques e.V., 37308 Heilbad Heiligenstadt, Germany; (S.W.); (G.G.); (R.R.); (K.L.)
| | - Robert Römer
- Institute for Bioprocessing and Analytical Measurement Techniques e.V., 37308 Heilbad Heiligenstadt, Germany; (S.W.); (G.G.); (R.R.); (K.L.)
| | - Karen Lemke
- Institute for Bioprocessing and Analytical Measurement Techniques e.V., 37308 Heilbad Heiligenstadt, Germany; (S.W.); (G.G.); (R.R.); (K.L.)
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Richter F, Chen M, Schaub P, Wüst F, Zhang D, Schneider S, Groß GA, Mäder P, Dovzhenko O, Palme K, Köhler JM, Cao J. Induction of embryogenic development in haploid microspore stem cells in droplet-based microfluidics. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:4292-4305. [PMID: 36196753 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00788f] [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
This work presents the application of droplet-based microfluidics for the cultivation of microspores from Brassica napus using the doubled haploid technology. Under stress conditions (e.g. heat shock) or by chemical induction a certain fraction of the microspores can be reprogrammed and androgenesis can be induced. This process is an important approach for plant breeding because desired plant properties can be anchored in the germline on a genetic level. However, the reprogramming rate of the microspores is generally very low, increasing it by specific stimulation is, therefore, both a necessary and challenging task. In order to accelerate the optimisation and development process, the application of droplet-based microfluidics can be a promising tool. Here, we used a tube-based microfluidic system for the generation and cultivation of microspores inside nL-droplets. Different factors like cell density, tube material and heat shock conditions were investigated to improve the yield of vital plant organoids. Evaluation and analysis of the stimuli response were done on an image base aided by an artificial intelligence cell detection algorithm. Droplet-based microfluidics allowed us to apply large concentration programs in small test volumes and to screen the best conditions for reprogramming cells by the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A and for enhancing the yield of vital microspores in droplets. An enhanced reprogramming rate was found under the heat shock conditions at 32 °C for about 3 to 6 days. In addition, the comparative experiment with MTP showed that droplet cultivation with lower cell density (<10 cells per droplet) or adding media after 3 or 6 days significantly positively affects the microspore growth and embryo rate inside 120 nL droplets. Finally, the developed embryos could be removed from the droplets and further grown into mature plants. Overall, we demonstrated that the droplet-based tube system is suitable for implementation in an automated, miniaturized system to achieve the induction of embryogenic development in haploid microspore stem cells of Brassica napus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Richter
- Institute for Chemistry and Biotechnologies, Dept. Physical Chemistry and Microreaction Technologies, Technische Universität Ilmenau, 98693 Ilmenau, Germany.
| | - Minqian Chen
- Technische Universität Ilmenau, Institute for Computer and Systems Engineering, Dept. Software Engineering for Safety-Critical Systems, 98693 Ilmenau, Germany
| | | | - Florian Wüst
- Institute of Biology II, Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Di Zhang
- Institute of Biology II, Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Steffen Schneider
- Institute for Chemistry and Biotechnologies, Dept. Physical Chemistry and Microreaction Technologies, Technische Universität Ilmenau, 98693 Ilmenau, Germany.
| | - G Alexander Groß
- Institute for Chemistry and Biotechnologies, Dept. Physical Chemistry and Microreaction Technologies, Technische Universität Ilmenau, 98693 Ilmenau, Germany.
| | - Patrick Mäder
- Technische Universität Ilmenau, Institute for Computer and Systems Engineering, Dept. Software Engineering for Safety-Critical Systems, 98693 Ilmenau, Germany
| | | | - Klaus Palme
- ScreenSYS GmbH, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Institute of Biology II, Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- BIOSS Centre of Biological Signalling Studies, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Sino-German Joint Research Center on Agricultural Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Daizong Street 61, Tai'an, 271018, China
| | - J Michael Köhler
- Institute for Chemistry and Biotechnologies, Dept. Physical Chemistry and Microreaction Technologies, Technische Universität Ilmenau, 98693 Ilmenau, Germany.
| | - Jialan Cao
- Institute for Chemistry and Biotechnologies, Dept. Physical Chemistry and Microreaction Technologies, Technische Universität Ilmenau, 98693 Ilmenau, Germany.
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Wiedemeier S, Eichler M, Römer R, Grodrian A, Lemke K, Nagel K, Klages CP, Gastrock G. Parametric studies on droplet generation reproducibility for applications with biological relevant fluids. Eng Life Sci 2017; 17:1271-1280. [PMID: 29399017 PMCID: PMC5765517 DOI: 10.1002/elsc.201700086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2017] [Revised: 08/12/2017] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the great potential of droplet based microfluidic technologies for routine applications in industry and academia has been successfully demonstrated over the past years, its inherent potential is not fully exploited till now. Especially regarding to the droplet generation reproducibility and stability, two pivotally important parameters for successful applications, there is still a need for improvement. This is even more considerable when droplets are created to investigate tissue fragments or cell cultures (e.g. suspended cells or 3D cell cultures) over days or even weeks. In this study we present microfluidic chips composed of a plasma coated polymer, which allow surfactants-free, highly reproducible and stable droplet generation from fluids like cell culture media. We demonstrate how different microfluidic designs and different flow rates (and flow rate ratios) affect the reproducibility of the droplet generation process and display the applicability for a wide variety of bio(techno)logically relevant media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Wiedemeier
- Bioprocess Engineering Institute for Bioprocessing and Analytical Measurement Techniques e.V. (iba) Heilbad Heiligenstadt Germany
| | - Marko Eichler
- Atmospheric Pressure Processes Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films (IST) Braunschweig Germany
| | - Robert Römer
- Bioprocess Engineering Institute for Bioprocessing and Analytical Measurement Techniques e.V. (iba) Heilbad Heiligenstadt Germany
| | - Andreas Grodrian
- Bioprocess Engineering Institute for Bioprocessing and Analytical Measurement Techniques e.V. (iba) Heilbad Heiligenstadt Germany
| | - Karen Lemke
- Bioprocess Engineering Institute for Bioprocessing and Analytical Measurement Techniques e.V. (iba) Heilbad Heiligenstadt Germany
| | - Krees Nagel
- Atmospheric Pressure Processes Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films (IST) Braunschweig Germany
| | - Claus-Peter Klages
- Atmospheric Pressure Processes Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films (IST) Braunschweig Germany
| | - Gunter Gastrock
- Bioprocess Engineering Institute for Bioprocessing and Analytical Measurement Techniques e.V. (iba) Heilbad Heiligenstadt Germany
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