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Ma J, Xie Q, Zhang Y, Xiao Q, Liu X, Qiao C, Tian Y. Advances in microfluidic technology for sperm screening and in vitro fertilization. Anal Bioanal Chem 2024; 416:3717-3735. [PMID: 38189916 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-023-05120-9] [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: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
About 18% of reproductive-age adults worldwide are affected by infertility. In vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) are widely used assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) aimed at improving clinical outcomes. Efficient and noninvasive selection and isolation of highly motile sperm with intact DNA are essential for the success of IVF and ICSI and can potentially impact the therapeutic efficacy and the health of the offspring. Compared to traditional methods, microfluidic technology offers significant advantages such as low sample consumption, high efficiency, minimal damage, high integration, similar microenvironment, and high automation, providing a new platform for ARTs. Here, we review the current situation of microfluidic technology in the field of sperm motility screening and evaluation and IVF research. First, we focus on the working principle, structural design, and screening results of sperm selection microfluidic platforms. We then highlight how the multiple steps of the IVF process can be facilitated and integrated into a microfluidic chip, including oocyte capture, sperm collection and isolation, sperm sorting, fertilization, and embryo culture. Ultimately, we summarize how microfluidics can complement and optimize current sperm sorting and IVF protocols, and challenges and possible solutions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingtong Ma
- College of Medicine and Biological Information Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110169, China
| | - Qianlin Xie
- College of Medicine and Biological Information Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110169, China
| | - Yusongjia Zhang
- College of Medicine and Biological Information Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110169, China
| | - Qirui Xiao
- College of Medicine and Biological Information Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110169, China
| | - Xiaoyu Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, 110003, China.
| | - Chong Qiao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110022, China.
- Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, 110022, China.
| | - Ye Tian
- College of Medicine and Biological Information Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110169, China.
- Foshan Graduate School of Innovation, Northeastern University, Foshan, 528300, China.
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2
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Zhang Y, Huang S, Cao Y, Li L, Yang J, Zhao M. New Opportunities for Electric Fields in Promoting Wound Healing: Collective Electrotaxis. Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle) 2024. [PMID: 38780799 DOI: 10.1089/wound.2024.0003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
SIGNIFICANCE It has long been hypothesized that naturally occurring electric fields (EFs) aid wound healing by guiding cell migration. Consequently, the application of EFs has significant potential for promoting wound healing. However, the mechanisms underlying the cellular response to EFs remain unclear. Recent Advances: Although the directed migration of isolated single cells under EFs has been studied for decades, only recently has experimental evidence demonstrated the distinct collective migration of large sheets of keratinocytes and corneal epithelial cells in response to applied EFs. Accumulating evidence suggests that the emergent properties of cell groups in response to EF guidance offer new opportunities for EF-assisted directional migration. CRITICAL ISSUES In this review, we provide an overview of the field of collective electrotaxis, highlighting key advances made in recent years. We also discuss advanced engineering strategies utilized to manipulate collective electrotaxis. FUTURE DIRECTIONS We outline a series of unanswered questions in this field and propose potential applications of collective electrotaxis in developing electrical stimulation technologies for wound healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhang
- Hangzhou Normal University, School of Public Health, 2318 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, China, 311121;
| | - Shiwen Huang
- Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China;
| | - Yifei Cao
- Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China;
| | - Li Li
- Army Medical University, Chongqing, Chongqing, China;
| | - Jun Yang
- Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China;
| | - Min Zhao
- UC Davis, Dermatology, 1515 Newton Court, Derm Research, Davis, California, United States, CA 95618;
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3
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Mukherjee J, Chaturvedi D, Mishra S, Jain R, Dandekar P. Microfluidic technology for cell biology-related applications: a review. J Biol Phys 2024; 50:1-27. [PMID: 38055086 PMCID: PMC10864244 DOI: 10.1007/s10867-023-09646-y] [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: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Fluid flow at the microscale level exhibits a unique phenomenon that can be explored to fabricate microfluidic devices integrated with components that can perform various biological functions. In this manuscript, the importance of physics for microscale fluid dynamics using microfluidic devices has been reviewed. Microfluidic devices provide new opportunities with regard to spatial and temporal control over cell growth. Furthermore, the manuscript presents an overview of cellular stimuli observed by combining surfaces that mimic the complex biochemistries and different geometries of the extracellular matrix, with microfluidic channels regulating the transport of fluids, soluble factors, etc. We have also explained the concept of mechanotransduction, which defines the relation between mechanical force and biological response. Furthermore, the manipulation of cellular microenvironments by the use of microfluidic systems has been highlighted as a useful device for basic cell biology research activities. Finally, the article focuses on highly integrated microfluidic platforms that exhibit immense potential for biomedical and pharmaceutical research as robust and portable point-of-care diagnostic devices for the assessment of clinical samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joydeb Mukherjee
- Department of Biological Science and Biotechnology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, 400019, India
| | - Deepa Chaturvedi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, 400019, India
| | - Shlok Mishra
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, 400019, India
| | - Ratnesh Jain
- Department of Biological Science and Biotechnology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, 400019, India
| | - Prajakta Dandekar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, 400019, India.
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4
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Jahangiri AR, Ziarati N, Dadkhah E, Bucak MN, Rahimizadeh P, Shahverdi A, Sadighi Gilani MA, Topraggaleh TR. Microfluidics: The future of sperm selection in assisted reproduction. Andrology 2023. [PMID: 38148634 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13578] [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: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obtaining functional sperm cells is the first step to treat infertility. With the ever-increasing trend in male infertility, clinicians require access to effective solutions that are able to single out the most viable spermatozoa, which would max out the chance for a successful pregnancy. The new generation techniques for sperm selection involve microfluidics, which offers laminar flow and low Reynolds number within the platforms can provide unprecedented opportunities for sperm selection. Previous studies showed that microfluidic platforms can provide a novel approach to this challenge and since then researchers across the globe have attacked this problem from multiple angles. OBJECTIVE In this review, we seek to provide a much-needed bridge between the technical and medical aspects of microfluidic sperm selection. Here, we provide an up-to-date list on microfluidic sperm selection procedures and its application in assisted reproductive technology laboratories. SEARCH METHOD A literature search was performed in Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus to select papers reporting microfluidic sperm selection using the keywords: microfluidic sperm selection, self-motility, non-motile sperm selection, boundary following, rheotaxis, chemotaxis, and thermotaxis. Papers published before March 31, 2023 were selected. OUTCOMES Our results show that most studies have used motility-based properties for sperm selection. However, microfluidic platforms are ripe for making use of other properties such as chemotaxis and especially rheotaxis. We have identified that low throughput is one of the major hurdles to current microfluidic sperm selection chips, which can be solved via parallelization. CONCLUSION Future work needs to be performed on numerical simulation of the microfluidics chip prior to fabrication as well as relevant clinical assessment after the selection procedure. This would require a close collaboration and understanding among engineers, biologists, and medical professionals. It is interesting that in spite of two decades of microfluidics sperm selection, numerical simulation and clinical studies are lagging behind. It is expected that microfluidic sperm selection platforms will play a major role in the development of fully integrated start-to-finish assisted reproductive technology systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Reza Jahangiri
- NanoLund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Materials Science and Applied Mathematics, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Niloofar Ziarati
- Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ehsan Dadkhah
- Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mustafa Numan Bucak
- Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey
| | - Pegah Rahimizadeh
- Division of Experimental Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Cancer Research Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Abdolhossein Shahverdi
- Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Sadighi Gilani
- Department of Andrology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Tohid Rezaei Topraggaleh
- Reproductive Health Research Center, Clinical Research Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
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Leal J, Shaner S, Jedrusik N, Savelyeva A, Asplund M. Electrotaxis evokes directional separation of co-cultured keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11444. [PMID: 37454232 PMCID: PMC10349865 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38664-y] [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: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Bioelectric communication plays a significant role in several cellular processes and biological mechanisms, such as division, differentiation, migration, cancer metastasis, and wound healing. Ion flow across cellular walls leads to potential gradients and subsequent formation of constant or time-varying electric fields(EFs), which regulate cellular processes. An EF is natively generated towards the wound center during epithelial wound healing, aiming to align and guide cell migration, particularly of macrophages, fibroblasts, and keratinocytes. While this phenomenon, known as electrotaxis or galvanotaxis, has been extensively investigated across many cell types, it is typically explored one cell type at a time, which does not accurately represent cellular interactions during complex biological processes. Here we show the co-cultured electrotaxis of epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts with a salt-bridgeless microfluidic approach for the first time. The electrotactic response of these cells was first assessed in mono-culture to establish a baseline, resulting in the characteristic cathodic migration for keratinocytes and anodic for fibroblasts. Both cell types retained their electrotactic properties in co-culture leading to clear cellular partition even in the presence of cellular collisions. The methods leveraged here pave the way for future co-culture electrotaxis experiments where the concurrent influence of cell types can be thoroughly investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Leal
- Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
- BrainLinks-BrainTools Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Sebastian Shaner
- Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- BrainLinks-BrainTools Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Nicole Jedrusik
- Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- BrainLinks-BrainTools Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Anna Savelyeva
- Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- BrainLinks-BrainTools Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Maria Asplund
- Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
- BrainLinks-BrainTools Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
- Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS), University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
- Department of Microtechnology and Nanoscience, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden.
- Division of Nursing and Medical Technology, Luleå University of Technology, 97187, Luleå, Sweden.
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6
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Yuan H, Yuan W, Duan S, Jiao K, Zhang Q, Lim EG, Chen M, Zhao C, Pan P, Liu X, Song P. Microfluidic-Assisted Caenorhabditis elegans Sorting: Current Status and Future Prospects. CYBORG AND BIONIC SYSTEMS 2023; 4:0011. [PMID: 37287459 PMCID: PMC10243201 DOI: 10.34133/cbsystems.0011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) has been a popular model organism for several decades since its first discovery of the huge research potential for modeling human diseases and genetics. Sorting is an important means of providing stage- or age-synchronized worm populations for many worm-based bioassays. However, conventional manual techniques for C. elegans sorting are tedious and inefficient, and commercial complex object parametric analyzer and sorter is too expensive and bulky for most laboratories. Recently, the development of lab-on-a-chip (microfluidics) technology has greatly facilitated C. elegans studies where large numbers of synchronized worm populations are required and advances of new designs, mechanisms, and automation algorithms. Most previous reviews have focused on the development of microfluidic devices but lacked the summaries and discussion of the biological research demands of C. elegans, and are hard to read for worm researchers. We aim to comprehensively review the up-to-date microfluidic-assisted C. elegans sorting developments from several angles to suit different background researchers, i.e., biologists and engineers. First, we highlighted the microfluidic C. elegans sorting devices' advantages and limitations compared to the conventional commercialized worm sorting tools. Second, to benefit the engineers, we reviewed the current devices from the perspectives of active or passive sorting, sorting strategies, target populations, and sorting criteria. Third, to benefit the biologists, we reviewed the contributions of sorting to biological research. We expect, by providing this comprehensive review, that each researcher from this multidisciplinary community can effectively find the needed information and, in turn, facilitate future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Yuan
- School of Advanced Technology,
Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
| | - Wenwen Yuan
- School of Advanced Technology,
Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering,
University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Sixuan Duan
- School of Advanced Technology,
Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering,
University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Keran Jiao
- School of Advanced Technology,
Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
- Department of Chemistry,
Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
| | - Quan Zhang
- School of Advanced Technology,
Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
| | - Eng Gee Lim
- School of Advanced Technology,
Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering,
University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Min Chen
- School of Advanced Technology,
Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering,
University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Chun Zhao
- School of Advanced Technology,
Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering,
University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Peng Pan
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering,
University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Xinyu Liu
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering,
University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Pengfei Song
- School of Advanced Technology,
Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering,
University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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7
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Shandilya E, Maiti S. Self-Regulatory Micro- and Macroscale Patterning of ATP-Mediated Nanobioconjugate. ACS NANO 2023; 17:5108-5120. [PMID: 36827433 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c00431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Directional interactions and the assembly of a nanobioconjugate in clusters at a specific location are important for patterning and microarrays in biomedical research. Herein, we report that self-assembly and spatial control in surface patterning of the surfactant-functionalized nanoparticles can be governed in micro- and macroscale environments by two factors, synergistic enzyme-substrate-nanoparticle affinity and the phoretic effect. First, we show that aggregation of cationic gold nanoparticles (GNP) can be modulated by multivalent anionic nanoparticle binding of an adenosine-based nucleotide and enzyme, alkaline phosphatase. We further demonstrate two different types of their autonomous aggregation pattern: (i) by introducing an enzyme gradient that modulates the synergistic nonequilibrium interactivity of the nanoparticle, nucleotide, and enzyme both in microfluidic conditions and at the macroscale; and (ii) the surface deposition pattern from evaporating droplets via the coffee ring effect. Here, temporal control over the width and site of the patterning area inside the microfluidic channel under catalytic and noncatalytic conditions has also been demonstrated. Finally, we show a change in capillary phoresis parameters responsible for the coffee ring due to introduction of ATP-loaded GNP in the blood serum, showing applicability in low-cost disease diagnostics. Overall, an enzyme-actuated surface nanobiopatterning method has been demonstrated that has potential application in controlled micro- and macroscale area patterning with a diverse cascade catalytic surface and spatiotemporal multisensory-based application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekta Shandilya
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali, Knowledge City, Manauli 140306, India
| | - Subhabrata Maiti
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali, Knowledge City, Manauli 140306, India
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8
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Flexible patch with printable and antibacterial conductive hydrogel electrodes for accelerated wound healing. Biomaterials 2022; 285:121479. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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9
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Chong P, Erable B, Bergel A. How bacteria use electric fields to reach surfaces. Biofilm 2021; 3:100048. [PMID: 33997766 PMCID: PMC8090995 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2021.100048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Electrotaxis is the property of cells to sense electric fields and use them to orient their displacement. This property has been widely investigated with eukaryotic cells but it remains unclear whether or not bacterial cells can sense an electric field. Here, a specific experimental set-up was designed to form microbial electroactive biofilms while differentiating the effect of the electric field from that of the polarised electrode surface. Application of an electric field during exposure of the electrodes to the inoculum was shown to be required for an electroactive biofilm to form afterwards. Similar biofilms were formed in both directions of the electric field. This result is attributed to the capacity of the cells to detect the K+ and Na+ ion gradients that the electric field creates at the electrode surface. This microbial property should now be considered as a key factor in the formation of electroactive biofilms and possible implications in the biomedical domain are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poehere Chong
- Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INP, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Benjamin Erable
- Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INP, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Alain Bergel
- Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INP, UPS, Toulouse, France
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10
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Microfabricated Devices for Confocal Microscopy on Biological Samples. Methods Mol Biol 2021. [PMID: 34028712 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1402-0_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
Microfabricated devices have found applications in a range of biomedical research problems in recent years, with thousands of research papers published and multiple commercial devices now available. This chapter is intended to provide an overview of the available options for devices compatible with confocal microscopy, including an overview of fabrication techniques and some examples of device use. Although there are times when off-the-shelf devices are well suited for the problem at hand, in some cases customized devices are necessary or more convenient. Protocols for researchers who wish to make their own devices are outlined below; although fabricating templates for devices requires some specialized equipment, making PDMS or hydrogel devices from templates can be done in a standard laboratory setting.
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11
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Moarefian M, Davalos RV, Burton MD, Jones CN. Electrotaxis-on-Chip to Quantify Neutrophil Migration Towards Electrochemical Gradients. Front Immunol 2021; 12:674727. [PMID: 34421891 PMCID: PMC8379007 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.674727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Electric fields are generated in vivo in a variety of physiologic and pathologic settings, including wound healing and immune response to injuries to epithelial barriers (e.g. lung pneumocytes). Immune cells are known to migrate towards both chemical (chemotaxis), physical (mechanotaxis) and electric stimuli (electrotaxis). Electrotaxis is the guided migration of cells along electric fields, and has previously been reported in T-cells and cancer cells. However, there remains a need for engineering tools with high spatial and temporal resolution to quantify EF guided migration. Here we report the development of an electrotaxis-on-chip (ETOC) platform that enables the quantification of dHL-60 cell, a model neutrophil-like cell line, migration toward both electrical and chemoattractant gradients. Neutrophils are the most abundant white blood cells and set the stage for the magnitude of the immune response. Therefore, developing engineering tools to direct neutrophil migration patterns has applications in both infectious disease and inflammatory disorders. The ETOC developed in this study has embedded electrodes and four migration zones connected to a central cell-loading chamber with migration channels [10 µm X 10 µm]. This device enables both parallel and competing chemoattractant and electric fields. We use our novel ETOC platform to investigate dHL-60 cell migration in three biologically relevant conditions: 1) in a DC electric field; 2) parallel chemical gradient and electric fields; and 3) perpendicular chemical gradient and electric field. In this study we used differentiated leukemia cancer cells (dHL60 cells), an accepted model for human peripheral blood neutrophils. We first quantified effects of electric field intensities (0.4V/cm-1V/cm) on dHL-60 cell electrotaxis. Our results show optimal migration at 0.6 V/cm. In the second scenario, we tested whether it was possible to increase dHL-60 cell migration to a bacterial signal [N-formylated peptides (fMLP)] by adding a parallel electric field. Our results show that there was significant increase (6-fold increase) in dHL60 migration toward fMLP and cathode of DC electric field (0.6V/cm, n=4, p-value<0.005) vs. fMLP alone. Finally, we evaluated whether we could decrease or re-direct dHL-60 cell migration away from an inflammatory signal [leukotriene B4 (LTB4)]. The perpendicular electric field significantly decreased migration (2.9-fold decrease) of dHL60s toward LTB4vs. LTB4 alone. Our microfluidic device enabled us to quantify single-cell electrotaxis velocity (7.9 µm/min ± 3.6). The magnitude and direction of the electric field can be more precisely and quickly changed than most other guidance cues such as chemical cues in clinical investigation. A better understanding of EF guided cell migration will enable the development of new EF-based treatments to precisely direct immune cell migration for wound care, infection, and other inflammatory disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Moarefian
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Rafael V. Davalos
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Michael D. Burton
- Department of Neuroscience, Neuroimmunology and Behavior Group, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Caroline N. Jones
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
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12
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Shim G, Devenport D, Cohen DJ. Overriding native cell coordination enhances external programming of collective cell migration. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2101352118. [PMID: 34272284 PMCID: PMC8307614 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2101352118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
As collective cell migration is essential in biological processes spanning development, healing, and cancer progression, methods to externally program cell migration are of great value. However, problems can arise if the external commands compete with strong, preexisting collective behaviors in the tissue or system. We investigate this problem by applying a potent external migratory cue-electrical stimulation and electrotaxis-to primary mouse skin monolayers where we can tune cell-cell adhesion strength to modulate endogenous collectivity. Monolayers with high cell-cell adhesion showed strong natural coordination and resisted electrotactic control, with this conflict actively damaging the leading edge of the tissue. However, reducing preexisting coordination in the tissue by specifically inhibiting E-cadherin-dependent cell-cell adhesion, either by disrupting the formation of cell-cell junctions with E-cadherin-specific antibodies or rapidly dismantling E-cadherin junctions with calcium chelators, significantly improved controllability. Finally, we applied this paradigm of weakening existing coordination to improve control and demonstrate accelerated wound closure in vitro. These results are in keeping with those from diverse, noncellular systems and confirm that endogenous collectivity should be considered as a key quantitative design variable when optimizing external control of collective migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gawoon Shim
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540
| | - Danelle Devenport
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540
| | - Daniel J Cohen
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540;
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13
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Ren X, Getschman AE, Hwang S, Volkman BF, Klonisch T, Levin D, Zhao M, Santos S, Liu S, Cheng J, Lin F. Investigations on T cell transmigration in a human skin-on-chip (SoC) model. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:1527-1539. [PMID: 33616124 PMCID: PMC8058301 DOI: 10.1039/d0lc01194k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
A microfluidics-based three-dimensional skin-on-chip (SoC) model is developed in this study to enable quantitative studies of transendothelial and transepithelial migration of human T lymphocytes in mimicked skin inflammatory microenvironments and to test new drug candidates. The keys results include 1) CCL20-dependent T cell transmigration is significantly inhibited by an engineered CCL20 locked dimer (CCL20LD), supporting the potential immunotherapeutic use of CCL20LD for treating skin diseases such as psoriasis; 2) transepithelial migration of T cells in response to a CXCL12 gradient mimicking T cell egress from the skin is significantly reduced by a sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) background, suggesting the role of S1P for T cell retention in inflamed skin tissues; and 3) T cell transmigration is induced by inflammatory cytokine stimulated epithelial cells in the SoC model. Collectively, the developed SoC model recreates a dynamic multi-cellular micro-environment that enables quantitative studies of T cell transmigration at a single cell level in response to physiological cutaneous inflammatory mediators and potential drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoou Ren
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, 30A Sifton Rd, 301 Allen Bldg, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada. and Department of Biosystems Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Anthony E Getschman
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Samuel Hwang
- Department of Dermatology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95816, USA
| | - Brian F Volkman
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Thomas Klonisch
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
| | - David Levin
- Department of Biosystems Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Min Zhao
- Department of Dermatology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95816, USA and Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Susy Santos
- Victoria General Hospital, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2E8, Canada
| | - Song Liu
- Department of Biosystems Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Jasmine Cheng
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, 30A Sifton Rd, 301 Allen Bldg, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada.
| | - Francis Lin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, 30A Sifton Rd, 301 Allen Bldg, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada. and Department of Biosystems Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada and Department of Dermatology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95816, USA and Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0T5, Canada
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14
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Leggett SE, Hruska AM, Guo M, Wong IY. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition and the cytoskeleton in bioengineered systems. Cell Commun Signal 2021; 19:32. [PMID: 33691719 PMCID: PMC7945251 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-021-00713-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is intrinsically linked to alterations of the intracellular cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix. After EMT, cells acquire an elongated morphology with front/back polarity, which can be attributed to actin-driven protrusion formation as well as the gain of vimentin expression. Consequently, cells can deform and remodel the surrounding matrix in order to facilitate local invasion. In this review, we highlight recent bioengineering approaches to elucidate EMT and functional changes in the cytoskeleton. First, we review transitions between multicellular clusters and dispersed individuals on planar surfaces, which often exhibit coordinated behaviors driven by leader cells and EMT. Second, we consider the functional role of vimentin, which can be probed at subcellular length scales and within confined spaces. Third, we discuss the role of topographical patterning and EMT via a contact guidance like mechanism. Finally, we address how multicellular clusters disorganize and disseminate in 3D matrix. These new technologies enable controlled physical microenvironments and higher-resolution spatiotemporal measurements of EMT at the single cell level. In closing, we consider future directions for the field and outstanding questions regarding EMT and the cytoskeleton for human cancer progression. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan E Leggett
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, William St, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
| | - Alex M Hruska
- School of Engineering, Center for Biomedical Engineering, and Joint Program in Cancer Biology, Brown University, 184 Hope St Box D, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - Ming Guo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, MIT, 77 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Ian Y Wong
- School of Engineering, Center for Biomedical Engineering, and Joint Program in Cancer Biology, Brown University, 184 Hope St Box D, Providence, RI, 02912, USA.
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15
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Jones TH, Kaul K, Garg AA, Song JW, Ganju RK, Subramaniam VV. Directional Migration of Breast Cancer Cells Hindered by Induced Electric Fields May Be Due to Accompanying Alteration of Metabolic Activity. Bioelectricity 2021; 3:92-100. [PMID: 34476380 DOI: 10.1089/bioe.2020.0048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Induced electric fields (iEFs) control directional breast cancer cell migration. While the connection between migration and metabolism is appreciated in the context of cancer and metastasis, effects of iEFs on metabolic pathways especially as they relate to migration, remain unexplored. Materials and Methods: Quantitative cell migration data in the presence and absence of an epidermal growth factor (EGF) gradient in the microfluidic bidirectional microtrack assay was retrospectively analyzed for additional effects of iEFs on cell motility and directionality. Surrogate markers of oxidative phosphorylation (succinate dehydrogenase [SDH] activity) and glycolysis (lactate dehydrogenase activity) were assessed in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and normal MCF10A mammary epithelial cells exposed to iEFs and EGF. Results: Retrospective analysis of migration results suggests that iEFs increase forward cell migration speeds while extending the time cells spend migrating slowly in the reverse direction or remaining stationary. Furthermore, in the presence of EGF, iEFs differentially altered flux through oxidative phosphorylation in MDA-MB-231 cells and glycolysis in MCF10A cells. Conclusions: iEFs interfere with MDA-MB-231 cell migration, potentially, by altering mitochondrial metabolism, observed as an inhibition of SDH activity in the presence of EGF. The energy intensive process of migration in these highly metastatic breast cancer cells may be hindered by iEFs, thus, through hampering of oxidative phosphorylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis H Jones
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.,Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Kirti Kaul
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.,Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Ayush A Garg
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Jonathan W Song
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.,Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Ramesh K Ganju
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.,Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Vish V Subramaniam
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.,Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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16
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Ryan CNM, Doulgkeroglou MN, Zeugolis DI. Electric field stimulation for tissue engineering applications. BMC Biomed Eng 2021; 3:1. [PMID: 33397515 PMCID: PMC7784019 DOI: 10.1186/s42490-020-00046-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Electric fields are involved in numerous physiological processes, including directional embryonic development and wound healing following injury. To study these processes in vitro and/or to harness electric field stimulation as a biophysical environmental cue for organised tissue engineering strategies various electric field stimulation systems have been developed. These systems are overall similar in design and have been shown to influence morphology, orientation, migration and phenotype of several different cell types. This review discusses different electric field stimulation setups and their effect on cell response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina N M Ryan
- Regenerative, Modular & Developmental Engineering Laboratory (REMODEL), National University of Ireland Galway & USI, Galway, Ireland.,Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Centre for Research in Medical Devices (CÚRAM), National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Meletios N Doulgkeroglou
- Regenerative, Modular & Developmental Engineering Laboratory (REMODEL), National University of Ireland Galway & USI, Galway, Ireland.,Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Centre for Research in Medical Devices (CÚRAM), National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Dimitrios I Zeugolis
- Regenerative, Modular & Developmental Engineering Laboratory (REMODEL), National University of Ireland Galway & USI, Galway, Ireland. .,Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Centre for Research in Medical Devices (CÚRAM), National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland. .,Regenerative, Modular & Developmental Engineering Laboratory (REMODEL), Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI), Lugano, Switzerland.
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17
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Caramazza L, De Angelis A, Remondini D, Castellani G, Liberti M, Apollonio F, Zironi I. Galvanotactic Phenomenon Induced by Non-Contact Electrostatic Field: Investigation in a Scratch Assay. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2020; 2020:2520-2523. [PMID: 33018519 DOI: 10.1109/embc44109.2020.9175695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Non-contact galvanotaxis as a way to drive the cells migration could be a promising tool for a variety of biomedical applications, such as wound healing control, avoiding the interaction between electrodes and cell cultures. To this regard, the efficacy of this electrical stimulus application has to be deeper studied to control physiological migratory phenomena in a remote way.Aim of this work is to provide an experimental investigation on the mobility of cells exposed to a static electric field in a "noncontact" mode, supported by a suitable modeling of the electric field distribution inside the experimental setup. In particular, scratch assays have been carried out placing the electrodes outside the cells medium support and changing the cells holder to study more than one configuration.Clinical Relevance- In this study the in vitro experiments on the non-contact galvanotaxis, together with the numerical simulations of the exposure setup, provide a way to investigate the effects that could affect an electrically drive cell migration.
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18
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Hemmilä S, Ruponen M, Toropainen E, Tengvall-Unadike U, Urtti A, Kallio P. Microflow-Based Device for In Vitro and Ex Vivo Drug Permeability Studies. SLAS Technol 2020; 25:455-462. [PMID: 32351160 PMCID: PMC7509603 DOI: 10.1177/2472630320916190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This paper presents a novel microflow-based concept for studying the permeability of in vitro cell models or ex vivo tissues. Using the proposed concept, we demonstrate how to maintain physiologically relevant test conditions and produce highly reproducible permeability values for a range (31) of drug compounds. The apparent permeability coefficients (Papp) showed excellent correlation (0.89) with the values from experiments performed with a conventional Ussing chamber. Additionally, the microflow-based concept produces notably more concentrated samples than the conventional Ussing chamber-based approach, despite the fact that more than 10 times smaller quantities of test compounds and biological membranes are needed in the microflow-based concept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samu Hemmilä
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Marika Ruponen
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Elisa Toropainen
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Unni Tengvall-Unadike
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Arto Urtti
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Laboratory of Biohybrid Technologies, Institute of Chemistry, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - Pasi Kallio
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
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19
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Zajdel TJ, Shim G, Wang L, Rossello-Martinez A, Cohen DJ. SCHEEPDOG: Programming Electric Cues to Dynamically Herd Large-Scale Cell Migration. Cell Syst 2020; 10:506-514.e3. [PMID: 32684277 PMCID: PMC7779114 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2020.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Directed cell migration is critical across biological processes spanning healing to cancer invasion, yet no existing tools allow real-time interactive guidance over such migration. We present a new bioreactor that harnesses electrotaxis-directed cell migration along electric field gradients-by integrating four independent electrodes under computer control to dynamically program electric field patterns, and hence steer cell migration. Using this platform, we programmed and characterized multiple precise, two-dimensional collective migration maneuvers in renal epithelia and primary skin keratinocyte ensembles. First, we demonstrated on-demand, 90-degree collective turning. Next, we developed a universal electrical stimulation scheme capable of programming arbitrary 2D migration maneuvers such as precise angular turns and migration in a complete circle. Our stimulation scheme proves that cells effectively time-average electric field cues, helping to elucidate the transduction timescales in electrotaxis. Together, this work represents an enabling platform for controlling cell migration with broad utility across many cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom J Zajdel
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Gawoon Shim
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Linus Wang
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Alejandro Rossello-Martinez
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Department of Aeronautics, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Daniel J Cohen
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
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20
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Berendsen JTW, Kruit SA, Atak N, Willink E, Segerink LI. Flow-Free Microfluidic Device for Quantifying Chemotaxis in Spermatozoa. Anal Chem 2020; 92:3302-3306. [PMID: 31994387 PMCID: PMC7031847 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b05183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Current male fertility diagnosis tests focus on assessing the quality of semen samples by studying the concentration, total volume, and motility of spermatozoa. However, other characteristics such as the chemotactic ability of a spermatozoon might influence the chance of fertilization. Here we describe a simple, easy to fabricate and handle, flow-free microfluidic chip to test the chemotactic response of spermatozoa made out of a hybrid hydrogel (8% gelatin/1% agarose). A chemotaxis experiment with 1 μM progesterone was performed that significantly demonstrated that boar spermatozoa are attracted by a progesterone gradient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna T W Berendsen
- BIOS-Lab on a Chip Group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology and MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine , University of Twente , 7500 AE Enschede , The Netherlands
| | - Stella A Kruit
- BIOS-Lab on a Chip Group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology and MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine , University of Twente , 7500 AE Enschede , The Netherlands
| | - Nihan Atak
- BIOS-Lab on a Chip Group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology and MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine , University of Twente , 7500 AE Enschede , The Netherlands
| | - Ellen Willink
- BIOS-Lab on a Chip Group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology and MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine , University of Twente , 7500 AE Enschede , The Netherlands
| | - Loes I Segerink
- BIOS-Lab on a Chip Group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology and MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine , University of Twente , 7500 AE Enschede , The Netherlands
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21
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Kabak EC, Fernández-Pérez J, Ahearne M. Development and Validation of a 3D In Vitro Model to Study the Chemotactic Behavior of Corneal Stromal Fibroblasts. Methods Mol Biol 2020; 2145:185-196. [PMID: 32542608 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0599-8_13] [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] [Indexed: 03/26/2023]
Abstract
Chemotaxis plays a pivotal role in crucial biological phenomena including immune response, cancer metastasis, and wound healing. Although many chemotaxis assays have been developed to better understand these multicomplex biological mechanisms, most of them have serious limitations mainly due to the poor representation of native three-dimensional (3D) microenvironment. Here, we describe a method to develop and validate a novel 3D in vitro chemotaxis model to study the migration of corneal fibroblasts through a stromal equivalent. A hydrogel was used that contained gelatin microspheres loaded with platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) in the inner section and corneal fibroblasts in the outer section. The cell migration toward the chemical stimuli over time can be monitored via confocal microscopy. The development of this in vitro model can be used for both qualitative and quantitative examinations of chemotaxis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evrim Ceren Kabak
- Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Biotechnology Unit, Nobel Pharmaceuticals A.S, Gebze, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Julia Fernández-Pérez
- Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, School of Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mark Ahearne
- Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
- Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, School of Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
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22
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Haring AP, Thompson EG, Hernandez RD, Laheri S, Harrigan ME, Lear T, Sontheimer H, Johnson BN. 3D Printed Multiplexed Competitive Migration Assays with Spatially Programmable Release Sources. ADVANCED BIOSYSTEMS 2020; 4:e1900225. [PMID: 32293127 PMCID: PMC7687855 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.201900225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Here, a 3D printed multiplexed competitive migration assay is reported for characterizing a chemotactic response in the presence of multiple spatially distributed chemoattractants. The utility of the assay is demonstrated by examining the chemotactic response of human glioblastoma cells to spatially opposing chemotactic gradients of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and bradykinin (BK). Competitive migration assays involving spatially opposing gradients of EGF and BK that are optimized in the absence of the second chemoattractant show that 46% more glioblastoma cells migrate toward EGF sources. The migration velocities of human glioblastoma cells toward EGF and BK sources are reduced by 7.6 ± 2.2% and 11.6 ± 6.3% relative to those found in the absence of the spatially opposing chemoattractant. This work provides new insight to the chemotactic response associated with glioblastoma-vasculature interactions and a versatile, user-friendly platform for characterizing the chemotactic response of cells in the presence of multiple spatially distributed chemoattractants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander P Haring
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Emily G Thompson
- Glial Biology in Health, Disease and Cancer Center, Carillion Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
| | - Raymundo D Hernandez
- Glial Biology in Health, Disease and Cancer Center, Carillion Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
| | - Sahil Laheri
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Megan E Harrigan
- Glial Biology in Health, Disease and Cancer Center, Carillion Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
| | - Taylor Lear
- Glial Biology in Health, Disease and Cancer Center, Carillion Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
| | - Harald Sontheimer
- Glial Biology in Health, Disease and Cancer Center, Carillion Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Blake N Johnson
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
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23
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Cole J, Gagnon Z. A flow-based microfluidic device for spatially quantifying intracellular calcium ion activity during cellular electrotaxis. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2019; 13:064107. [PMID: 31737156 PMCID: PMC6837942 DOI: 10.1063/1.5124846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
How a cell senses, responds, and moves toward, or away from an external cue is central to many biological and medical phenomena including morphogenesis, immune response, and cancer metastasis. Many eukaryotic cells have internal sensory mechanisms that allow them to sense these cues, often in the form of gradients of chemoattractant, voltage, or mechanical stress, and bias their motion in a specific direction. In this study, a new method for using microfluidics to study the electrotactic migration of cells is presented. Electrotaxis (also known as galvanotaxis) is the phenomenon by which cells bias their motion directionally in response to an externally applied electrical field. In this work, we present a new flow-based, salt bridge-free microfluidic device for imaging and quantifying cell motility and intracellular ion activity during electrotaxis. To eliminate salt bridges, we used a low nanoliter flow rate to slowly drive Faradaic waste products away from and out of the electrotaxis zone. This cell migration zone consisted of an array of fluidic confinement channels approximately 2 μm in thickness. This confined height served to insulate the migrating cells from the electric field at the top and bottom of the cell, such that only the two-dimensional perimeter of the cells interacted with the electrical source. We demonstrate the ability to quantify the electrotactic velocity of migrating Dictyostelium discoideum cells and show how this confined design facilitates the imaging and quantification of the ion activity of electrotaxing cells. Finally, by spatially imaging the calcium concentration within these cells, we demonstrate that intracellular calcium preferentially translocates to the leading edge of migrating Dictyostelium cells during electrotaxis but does not exhibit this behavior during migration by chemotaxis in a gradient of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate or when cells freely migrate in the absence of an external cue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Cole
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA
| | - Zachary Gagnon
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, 203 Jack E. Brown Building, College Station, Texas 77843, USA
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24
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Gaines A, Ludovice M, Xu J, Zanghi M, Meinersmann RJ, Berrang M, Daley W, Britton D. The dialogue between protozoa and bacteria in a microfluidic device. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0222484. [PMID: 31596855 PMCID: PMC6784911 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In nature, protozoa play a major role in controlling bacterial populations. This paper proposes a microfluidic device for the study of protozoa behaviors change due to their chemotactic response in the presence of bacterial cells. A three-channel microfluidic device was designed using a nitrocellulose membrane into which channels were cut using a laser cutter. The membrane was sandwiched between two glass slides; a Euglena suspension was then allowed to flow through the central channel. The two side channels were filled with either, 0.1% peptone as a negative control, or a Listeria suspension respectively. The membrane design prevented direct interaction but allowed Euglena cells to detect Listeria cells as secretions diffused through the nitrocellulose membrane. A significant number of Euglena cells migrated toward the chambers near the bacterial cells, indicating a positive chemotactic response of Euglena toward chemical cues released from Listeria cells. Filtrates collected from Listeria suspension with a series of molecular weight cutoffs (3k, 10k and 100k) were examined in Euglena chemotaxis tests. Euglena cells were attracted to all filtrates collected from the membrane filtration with different molecular weight cutoffs, suggesting small molecules from Listeria might be the chemical cues to attract protozoa. Headspace volatile organic compounds (VOC) released from Listeria were collected, spiked to 0.1% peptone and tested as the chemotactic effectors. It was discovered that the Euglena cells responded quickly to Listeria VOCs including decanal, 3,5- dimethylbenzaldehyde, ethyl acetate, indicating bacterial VOCs were used by Euglena to track the location of bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Gaines
- Aerospace, Transportation and Advanced Systems Laboratory, Georgia Tech Research Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Miranda Ludovice
- Aerospace, Transportation and Advanced Systems Laboratory, Georgia Tech Research Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Jie Xu
- Aerospace, Transportation and Advanced Systems Laboratory, Georgia Tech Research Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Marc Zanghi
- Aerospace, Transportation and Advanced Systems Laboratory, Georgia Tech Research Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Richard J. Meinersmann
- Richard B. Russell Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Mark Berrang
- Richard B. Russell Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Wayne Daley
- Aerospace, Transportation and Advanced Systems Laboratory, Georgia Tech Research Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Doug Britton
- Aerospace, Transportation and Advanced Systems Laboratory, Georgia Tech Research Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
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25
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Coluccio ML, D'Attimo MA, Cristiani CM, Candeloro P, Parrotta E, Dattola E, Guzzi F, Cuda G, Lamanna E, Carbone E, Krühne U, Di Fabrizio E, Perozziello G. A Passive Microfluidic Device for Chemotaxis Studies. MICROMACHINES 2019; 10:mi10080551. [PMID: 31434220 PMCID: PMC6722731 DOI: 10.3390/mi10080551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Revised: 08/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
This work presents a disposable passive microfluidic system, allowing chemotaxis studies, through the generation of a concentration gradient. The device can handle liquid flows without an external supply of pressure or electric gradients, but simply using gravity force. It is able to ensure flow rates of 10 µL/h decreasing linearly with 2.5% in 24 h. The device is made of poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA), a biocompatible material, and it is fabricated by micro-milling and solvent assisted bonding. It is assembled into a mini incubator, designed properly for cell biology studies in passive microfluidic devices, which provides control of temperature and humidity levels, a contamination-free environment for cells with air and 5% of CO2. Furthermore, the mini incubator can be mounted on standard inverted optical microscopes. By using our microfluidic device integrated into the mini incubator, we are able to evaluate and follow in real-time the migration of any cell line to a chemotactic agent. The device is validated by showing cell migration at a rate of 0.36 µm/min, comparable with the rates present in scientific literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Laura Coluccio
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Maria Antonia D'Attimo
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Costanza Maria Cristiani
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Patrizio Candeloro
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Elvira Parrotta
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Dattola
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Francesco Guzzi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cuda
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Ernesto Lamanna
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Ennio Carbone
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Ulrich Krühne
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Enzo Di Fabrizio
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- Physical Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Gerardo Perozziello
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
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Improvement of a diffusion-based microfluidic chemotaxis assay through stable formation of a chemical gradient. Chem Eng Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2019.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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Ren X, Alamri A, Hipolito J, Lin F, Kung SKP. Applications of microfluidic devices in advancing NK-cell migration studies. Methods Enzymol 2019; 631:357-370. [PMID: 31948557 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2019.05.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Understanding how NK cells interact with tumor cells under specific microenvironment will be informative in development of NK-cell based immunotherapy. Applications of microfluidic devices in in vitro studies of NK-cell migrations offer unique opportunities to examine NK-cell migrations at single-cell under controlled cellular microenvironments. Novel devices can be created and engineered to present precise configuration that mimics cellular microenvironments for cell migration studies. We established previously the first application of a simple Y-shaped device for imaging and analysis of the abilities of the immature and mature DC to regulate murine IL-2 activated NK cell migrations. Here we reported the application of our recent technical development of a novel microfluidic device, which is also called the triple docking device (i.e., D3-Chip), for the studies of NK-cell migrations in NK-4T1 breast cancer cell interactions in vitro. Key features of this microfluidic device are its pump-free gradient generation, and the three-parallel units design that supports easy setup and parallel comparison of multiple experimental conditions. The cell docking structure enables the prealignment of all NK cells at the same "start" position before their exposures to the test conditions. As a result, quantification of cell displacement toward a chemical gradient can be quantified by enumeration of the number of cells migrated out of the docking structure and their displacements. Such microfluidic devices can be further modified in future to mimic the complex in vivo microenvironments to support more advanced investigations of NK-cell migratory responses in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoou Ren
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Department of Biosystems Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Abdulaziz Alamri
- Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Jolly Hipolito
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Francis Lin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Department of Biosystems Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
| | - Sam K P Kung
- Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
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Ruzycka M, Cimpan MR, Rios-Mondragon I, Grudzinski IP. Microfluidics for studying metastatic patterns of lung cancer. J Nanobiotechnology 2019; 17:71. [PMID: 31133019 PMCID: PMC6537392 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-019-0492-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The incidence of lung cancer continues to rise worldwide. Because the aggressive metastasis of lung cancer cells is the major drawback of successful therapies, the crucial challenge of modern nanomedicine is to develop diagnostic tools to map the molecular mechanisms of metastasis in lung cancer patients. In recent years, microfluidic platforms have been given much attention as tools for novel point-of-care diagnostic, an important aspect being the reconstruction of the body organs and tissues mimicking the in vivo conditions in one simple microdevice. Herein, we present the first comprehensive overview of the microfluidic systems used as innovative tools in the studies of lung cancer metastasis including single cancer cell analysis, endothelial transmigration, distant niches migration and finally neoangiogenesis. The application of the microfluidic systems to study the intercellular crosstalk between lung cancer cells and surrounding tumor microenvironment and the connection with multiple molecular signals coming from the external cellular matrix are discussed. We also focus on recent breakthrough technologies regarding lab-on-chip devices that serve as tools for detecting circulating lung cancer cells. The superiority of microfluidic systems over traditional in vitro cell-based assays with regard to modern nanosafety studies and new cancer drug design and discovery is also addressed. Finally, the current progress and future challenges regarding printable and paper-based microfluidic devices for personalized nanomedicine are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Ruzycka
- Department of Applied Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Warsaw, 1 Banacha Street, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mihaela R Cimpan
- Biomaterials - Department for Clinical Dentistry, University of Bergen, Årstadveien 19, 5009, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ivan Rios-Mondragon
- Biomaterials - Department for Clinical Dentistry, University of Bergen, Årstadveien 19, 5009, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ireneusz P Grudzinski
- Department of Applied Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Warsaw, 1 Banacha Street, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland.
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Ishida T, Shimamoto T, Kaminaga M, Kuchimaru T, Kizaka-Kondoh S, Omata T. Microfluidic High-Migratory Cell Collector Suppressing Artifacts Caused by Microstructures. MICROMACHINES 2019; 10:E116. [PMID: 30754704 PMCID: PMC6412487 DOI: 10.3390/mi10020116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Revised: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The small number of high-migratory cancer cells in a cell population make studies on high-migratory cancer cells difficult. For the development of migration assays for such cancer cells, several microfluidic devices have been developed. However, they measure migration that is influenced by microstructures and they collect not only high-migratory cells, but also surrounding cells. In order to find high-migratory cells in cell populations while suppressing artifacts and to collect these cells while minimizing damages, we developed a microfluidic high-migratory cell collector with the ability to sort cancer cells according to cellular migration and mechanical detachment. High-migratory cancer cells travel further from the starting line when all of the cells are seeded on the same starting line. The high-migratory cells are detached using a stretch of cell adhesive surface using a water-driven balloon actuator. Using this cell collector, we selected high-migratory HeLa cells that migrated about 100m in 12 h and collected the cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadashi Ishida
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan.
- Department of Mechano-Micro Engineering, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan.
| | - Takuya Shimamoto
- Department of Mechano-Micro Engineering, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan.
| | - Maho Kaminaga
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan.
| | - Takahiro Kuchimaru
- Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan.
| | - Shinae Kizaka-Kondoh
- Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan.
| | - Toru Omata
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan.
- Department of Mechano-Micro Engineering, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan.
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Chi PY, Spuul P, Tseng FG, Genot E, Chou CF, Taloni A. Cell Migration in Microfluidic Devices: Invadosomes Formation in Confined Environments. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1146:79-103. [PMID: 31612455 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-17593-1_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The last 20 years have seen the blooming of microfluidics technologies applied to biological sciences. Microfluidics provides effective tools for biological analysis, allowing the experimentalists to extend their playground to single cells and single molecules, with high throughput and resolution which were inconceivable few decades ago. In particular, microfluidic devices are profoundly changing the conventional way of studying the cell motility and cell migratory dynamics. In this chapter we will furnish a comprehensive view of the advancements made in the research domain of confinement-induced cell migration, thanks to the use of microfluidic devices. The chapter is subdivided in three parts. Each section will be addressing one of the fundamental questions that the microfluidic technology is contributing to unravel: (i) where cell migration takes place, (ii) why cells migrate and, (iii) how the cells migrate. The first introductory part is devoted to a thumbnail, and partially historical, description of microfluidics and its impact in biological sciences. Stress will be put on two aspects of the devices fabrication process, which are crucial for biological applications: materials used and coating methods. The second paragraph concerns the cell migration induced by environmental cues: chemical, leading to chemotaxis, mechanical, at the basis of mechanotaxis, and electrical, which induces electrotaxis. Each of them will be addressed separately, highlighting the fundamental role of microfluidics in providing the well-controlled experimental conditions where cell migration can be induced, investigated and ultimately understood. The third part of the chapter is entirely dedicated to how the cells move in confined environments. Invadosomes (the joint name for podosomes and invadopodia) are cell protrusion that contribute actively to cell migration or invasion. The formation of invadosomes under confinement is a research topic that only recently has caught the attention of the scientific community: microfluidic design is helping shaping the future direction of this emerging field of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Yin Chi
- Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China.,Nano Science and Technology Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.,Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Pirjo Spuul
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Division of Gene Technology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Fan-Gang Tseng
- Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China.,Frontier Research Center on Fundamental and Applied Sciences of Matters, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China.,Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Elisabeth Genot
- Centre de Recherche Cardio-Thoracique de Bordeaux (INSERM U1045), Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
| | - Chia-Fu Chou
- Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. .,Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. .,Genomics Research Center and Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
| | - Alessandro Taloni
- Institute for Complex Systems, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Roma, Italy.
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Li Y, Yu WK, Chen L, Chan YS, Liu D, Fong CC, Xu T, Zhu G, Sun D, Yang M. Electrotaxis of tumor-initiating cells of H1975 lung adenocarcinoma cells is associated with both activation of stretch-activated cation channels (SACCs) and internal calcium release. Bioelectrochemistry 2018; 124:80-92. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2018.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Revised: 03/24/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Peretz-Soroka H, Tirosh R, Hipolito J, Huebner E, Alexander M, Fiege J, Lin F. A bioenergetic mechanism for amoeboid-like cell motility profiles tested in a microfluidic electrotaxis assay. Integr Biol (Camb) 2018; 9:844-856. [PMID: 28960219 DOI: 10.1039/c7ib00086c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The amoeboid-like cell motility is known to be driven by the acidic enzymatic hydrolysis of ATP in the actin-myosin system. However, the electro-mechano-chemical coupling, whereby the free energy of ATP hydrolysis is transformed into the power of electrically polarized cell movement, is poorly understood. Previous experimental studies showed that actin filaments motion, cytoplasmic streaming, and muscle contraction can be reconstituted under actin-activated ATP hydrolysis by soluble non-filamentous myosin fragments. Thus, biological motility was demonstrated in the absence of a continuous protein network. These results lead to an integrative conceptual model for cell motility, which advocates an active role played by intracellular proton currents and cytoplasmic streaming (iPC-CS). In this model, we propose that protons and fluid currents develop intracellular electric polarization and pressure gradients, which generate an electro-hydrodynamic mode of amoeboid motion. Such energetic proton currents and active streaming are considered to be mainly driven by stereospecific ATP hydrolysis through myosin heads along oriented actin filaments. Key predictions of this model are supported by microscopy visualization and in-depth sub-population analysis of purified human neutrophils using a microfluidic electrotaxis assay. Three distinct phases in cell motility profiles, morphology, and cytoplasmic streaming in response to physiological ranges of chemoattractant stimulation and electric field application are revealed. Our results support an intrinsic electric dipole formation linked to different patterns of cytoplasmic streaming, which can be explained by the iPC-CS model. Collectively, this alternative biophysical mechanism of cell motility provides new insights into bioenergetics with relevance to potential new biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hagit Peretz-Soroka
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
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Nagamine K, Sato H, Kai H, Kaji H, Kanzaki M, Nishizawa M. Contractile Skeletal Muscle Cells Cultured with a Conducting Soft Wire for Effective, Selective Stimulation. Sci Rep 2018; 8:2253. [PMID: 29396483 PMCID: PMC5797109 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-20729-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Contractile skeletal muscle cells were cultured so as to wrap around an electrode wire to enable their selective stimulation even when they were co-cultured with other electrically-excitable cells. Since the electrode wire was composed of the conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and polyurethane (PU), which is soft and highly capacitive (~10 mF cm-2), non-faradaic electrical stimulation with charge/discharge currents could be applied to the surrounding cells without causing significant damage even for longer periods (more than a week). The advantage of this new culture system was demonstrated in the study of chemotactic interaction of monocytes and skeletal muscle cells via myokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuniaki Nagamine
- Department of Finemechanics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-01 Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8579, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Sato
- Department of Finemechanics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-01 Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8579, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Kai
- Department of Finemechanics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-01 Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8579, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Kaji
- Department of Finemechanics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-01 Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8579, Japan
| | - Makoto Kanzaki
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-04 Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8579, Japan
| | - Matsuhiko Nishizawa
- Department of Finemechanics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-01 Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8579, Japan.
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Mishra S, Vazquez M. A Gal-MµS Device to Evaluate Cell Migratory Response to Combined Galvano-Chemotactic Fields. BIOSENSORS-BASEL 2017; 7:bios7040054. [PMID: 29160793 PMCID: PMC5746777 DOI: 10.3390/bios7040054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2017] [Revised: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Electric fields have been studied extensively in biomedical engineering (BME) for numerous regenerative therapies. Recent studies have begun to examine the biological effects of electric fields in combination with other environmental cues, such as tissue-engineered extracellular matrices (ECM), chemical gradient profiles, and time-dependent temperature gradients. In the nervous system, cell migration driven by electrical fields, or galvanotaxis, has been most recently studied in transcranial direct stimulation (TCDS), spinal cord repair and tumor treating fields (TTF). The cell migratory response to galvano-combinatory fields, such as magnetic fields, chemical gradients, or heat shock, has only recently been explored. In the visual system, restoration of vision via cellular replacement therapies has been limited by low numbers of motile cells post-transplantation. Here, the combinatory application of electrical fields with other stimuli to direct cells within transplantable biomaterials and/or host tissues has been understudied. In this work, we developed the Gal-MµS device, a novel microfluidics device capable of examining cell migratory behavior in response to single and combinatory stimuli of electrical and chemical fields. The formation of steady-state, chemical concentration gradients and electrical fields within the Gal-MµS were modeled computationally and verified experimentally within devices fabricated via soft lithography. Further, we utilized real-time imaging within the device to capture cell trajectories in response to electric fields and chemical gradients, individually, as well as in combinatory fields of both. Our data demonstrated that neural cells migrated longer distances and with higher velocities in response to combined galvanic and chemical stimuli than to either field individually, implicating cooperative behavior. These results reveal a biological response to galvano-chemotactic fields that is only partially understood, as well as point towards novel migration-targeted treatments to improve cell-based regenerative therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawn Mishra
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City College of New York, New York, NY 10031, USA.
| | - Maribel Vazquez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City College of New York, New York, NY 10031, USA.
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Ren X, Levin D, Lin F. Cell Migration Research Based on Organ-on-Chip-Related Approaches. MICROMACHINES 2017; 8:mi8110324. [PMID: 30400514 PMCID: PMC6190356 DOI: 10.3390/mi8110324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2017] [Revised: 10/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Microfluidic devices have been widely used for cell migration research over the last two decades, owing to their attractive features in cellular microenvironment control and quantitative single-cell migration analysis. However, the majority of the microfluidic cell migration studies have focused on single cell types and have configured microenvironments that are greatly simplified compared with the in-vivo conditions they aspire to model. In addition, although cell migration is considered an important target for disease diagnosis and therapeutics, very few microfluidic cell migration studies involved clinical samples from patients. Therefore, more sophisticated microfluidic systems are required to model the complex in-vivo microenvironment at the tissue or organ level for cell migration studies and to explore cell migration-related clinical applications. Research in this direction that employs organ-on-chip-related approaches for cell migration analysis has been increasingly reported in recent years. In this paper, we briefly introduce the general background of cell migration and organ-on-chip research, followed by a detailed review of specific cell migration studies using organ-on-chip-related approaches, and conclude by discussing our perspectives of the challenges, opportunities and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoou Ren
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada.
- Department of Biosystems Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada.
| | - David Levin
- Department of Biosystems Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada.
| | - Francis Lin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada.
- Department of Biosystems Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada.
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Park S, Jang H, Kim BS, Hwang C, Jeong GS, Park Y. Directional migration of mesenchymal stem cells under an SDF-1α gradient on a microfluidic device. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0184595. [PMID: 28886159 PMCID: PMC5590985 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2017] [Accepted: 08/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Homing of peripheral stem cells is regulated by one of the most representative homing factors, stromal cell-derived factor 1 alpha (SDF-1α), which specifically binds to the plasma membrane receptor CXCR4 of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in order to initiate the signaling pathways that lead to directional migration and homing of stem cells. This complex homing process and directional migration of stem cells have been mimicked on a microfluidic device that is capable of generating a chemokine gradient within the collagen matrix and embedding endothelial cell (EC) monolayers to mimic blood vessels. On the microfluidic device, stem cells showed directional migration toward the higher concentration of SDF-1α, whereas treatment with the CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 caused loss of directionality of stem cells. Furthermore, inhibition of stem cell's main migratory signaling pathways, Rho-ROCK and Rac pathways, caused blockage of actomyosin and lamellipodia formation, decreasing the migration distance but maintaining directionality. Stem cell homing regulated by SDF-1α caused directional migration of stem cells, while the migratory ability was affected by the activation of migration-related signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siwan Park
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Science of Brain Korea 21, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hwanseok Jang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Science of Brain Korea 21, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Byung Soo Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul Korea
| | - Changmo Hwang
- Biomedical Engineering Research Center, Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Gi Seok Jeong
- Biomedical Engineering Research Center, Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
- * E-mail: (YP); (GSJ)
| | - Yongdoo Park
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Science of Brain Korea 21, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
- * E-mail: (YP); (GSJ)
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Microbiome-on-a-Chip: New Frontiers in Plant–Microbiota Research. Trends Microbiol 2017; 25:610-613. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2017.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2017] [Revised: 04/26/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Electroceutical Approach for Impairing the Motility of Pathogenic Bacterium Using a Microfluidic Platform. MICROMACHINES 2017; 8:mi8070207. [PMID: 30400398 PMCID: PMC6189992 DOI: 10.3390/mi8070207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Revised: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Electrotaxis, or galvanotaxis, refers to the migration pattern of cells induced in response to electrical potential. Electrotaxis has not been explored in detail in bacterial cells; information regarding the impact of current on pathogenic bacteria is severely lacking. Using microfluidic platforms and optical microscopy, we designed a series of single- and multi-cue experiments to assess the impact of varying electrical currents and acetic acid concentrations on bacterial motility dynamics in pathogenic multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. The use of the microfluidic platform allows for single-cue experiments where electrical current is supplied at a range that is biocidal to bacteria and multi-cue experiments where acetic acid is combined with current to enhance disinfection. These strategies may offer substantial therapeutic benefits, specifically for the treatment of biofilm infections, such as those found in the wound environment. Our results showed that an application of current in combination with acetic acid has profound inhibitory effects on MDR strains of P. aeruginosa and E. coli, even with brief applications. Specifically, E. coli motility dynamics and cell survival were significantly impaired starting at a concentration of 0.125 mA of direct current (DC) and 0.31% acetic acid, while P. aeruginosa was impaired at 0.70 mA and 0.31% acetic acid. As these strains are relevant wound pathogens, it is likely that this strategy would be effective against similar strains in vivo and could represent a new approach to hasten wound healing.
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Yang K, Peretz-Soroka H, Wu J, Zhu L, Cui X, Zhang M, Rigatto C, Liu Y, Lin F. Fibroblast growth factor 23 weakens chemotaxis of human blood neutrophils in microfluidic devices. Sci Rep 2017; 7:3100. [PMID: 28596573 PMCID: PMC5465076 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-03210-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 04/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Neutrophil trafficking in tissues critically regulates the body’s immune response. Neutrophil migration can either play a protective role in host defense or cause health problems. Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is a known biomarker for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and was recently shown to impair neutrophil arrest on endothelium and transendothelial migration. In the present study, we further examined the effect of FGF23 on human blood neutrophil chemotaxis using two new microfluidic devices. Our results showed that chemotaxis of FGF23 pre-treated neutrophils to a fMLP gradient, in the presence or absence of a uniform FGF23 background, is quantitatively lower compared to the control cells. This effect is accompanied with a stronger drifting of FGF23 pre-treated cells along the flow. However, without the FGF23 pre-treatment, the FGF23 background only reduces chemotaxis of transmigrated cells through the thin barrier channel to the fMLP gradient. The effect of FGF23 on neutrophil migration and the correlation between multiple cell migration parameters are further revealed by chemotactic entropy and principle component analysis. Collectively, these results revealed the effect of FGF23 on weakening neutrophil chemotaxis, which shed light on FGF23 mediated neutrophil migration with direct disease relevance such as CKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Yang
- Institute of Applied Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, P.R. China.,Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Hagit Peretz-Soroka
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Jiandong Wu
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Ling Zhu
- Institute of Applied Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, P.R. China
| | - Xueling Cui
- Department of Genetics, Jilin University, Jilin Sheng, China
| | | | | | - Yong Liu
- Institute of Applied Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, P.R. China
| | - Francis Lin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada. .,Department of Biosystems Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada. .,Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada. .,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
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Oudin MJ, Weaver VM. Physical and Chemical Gradients in the Tumor Microenvironment Regulate Tumor Cell Invasion, Migration, and Metastasis. COLD SPRING HARBOR SYMPOSIA ON QUANTITATIVE BIOLOGY 2017; 81:189-205. [PMID: 28424337 DOI: 10.1101/sqb.2016.81.030817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cancer metastasis requires the invasion of tumor cells into the stroma and the directed migration of tumor cells through the stroma toward the vasculature and lymphatics where they can disseminate and colonize secondary organs. Physical and biochemical gradients that form within the primary tumor tissue promote tumor cell invasion and drive persistent migration toward blood vessels and the lymphatics to facilitate tumor cell dissemination. These microenvironment cues include hypoxia and pH gradients, gradients of soluble cues that induce chemotaxis, and ions that facilitate galvanotaxis, as well as modifications to the concentration, organization, and stiffness of the extracellular matrix that produce haptotactic, alignotactic, and durotactic gradients. These gradients form through dynamic interactions between the tumor cells and the resident fibroblasts, adipocytes, nerves, endothelial cells, infiltrating immune cells, and mesenchymal stem cells. Malignant progression results from the integrated response of the tumor to these extrinsic physical and chemical cues. Here, we first describe how these physical and chemical gradients develop, and we discuss their role in tumor progression. We then review assays to study these gradients. We conclude with a discussion of clinical strategies used to detect and inhibit these gradients in tumors and of new intervention opportunities. Clarifying the role of these gradients in tumor evolution offers a unique approach to target metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine J Oudin
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
| | - Valerie M Weaver
- Department of Surgery, Center for Bioengineering and Tissue Regeneration, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143
- UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helen Diller Family Cancer Research Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143
- Department of Anatomy, Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, and Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research and The Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143
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Li Y, Xu T, Chen X, Lin S, Cho M, Sun D, Yang M. Effects of direct current electric fields on lung cancer cell electrotaxis in a PMMA-based microfluidic device. Anal Bioanal Chem 2017; 409:2163-2178. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-016-0162-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2016] [Revised: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 12/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Novel nanofibrous electrically conductive scaffolds based on poly(ethylene glycol)s-modified polythiophene and poly(ε-caprolactone) for tissue engineering applications. POLYMER 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2016.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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43
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Mi S, Du Z, Xu Y, Wu Z, Qian X, Zhang M, Sun W. Microfluidic co-culture system for cancer migratory analysis and anti-metastatic drugs screening. Sci Rep 2016; 6:35544. [PMID: 27762336 PMCID: PMC5071858 DOI: 10.1038/srep35544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2016] [Accepted: 09/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumour metastasis is an important reason for cancer death, and cancer cell migration is an important step in the process of tumour metastasis. Studying cancer cell migration is of great significance. Here, we present a novel microfluidic co-culture system and establish mild, moderate and severe cancer models by using HMEpiC and MDA-MB-231 cells to study cancer cell migration and anti-cancer drug screening. Using this device, we achieved high cell viability (over 90%) and a stable analysis of the migration ability of cancer cells. We observed that the density of the cancer cells determined the probability of the occurrence of metastatic cells and that the induction of normal cells affected the metastatic velocity of each cancer cell. We verified that the increase in the migration ability of MDA-MB-231 cells co-cultured with HMEpiC cells was relative to the increased secretion of IL-6 and that this was verified by an IL-6 inhibitor assay. This co-culture also led to decreased CK-14 secretion and morphological changes in HMEpiC cells. Finally, significant inhibition of paclitaxel and tamoxifen on cancer migration was observed. Taken together, our microfluidic device could be a useful tool for the quantitation of the migratory capability and anti-metastatic drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengli Mi
- Biomanufacturing Engineering Laboratory, Advanced Manufacturing Division, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, P. R. China
- Open FIESTA Center, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, P. R. China
| | - Zhichang Du
- Biomanufacturing Engineering Laboratory, Advanced Manufacturing Division, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, P. R. China
| | - Yuanyuan Xu
- Biomanufacturing Engineering Laboratory, Advanced Manufacturing Division, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, P. R. China
| | - Zhengjie Wu
- Biomanufacturing Engineering Laboratory, Advanced Manufacturing Division, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, P. R. China
| | - Xiang Qian
- Biomanufacturing Engineering Laboratory, Advanced Manufacturing Division, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, P. R. China
| | - Min Zhang
- Biomanufacturing Engineering Laboratory, Advanced Manufacturing Division, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, P. R. China
| | - Wei Sun
- Biomanufacturing Engineering Laboratory, Advanced Manufacturing Division, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, P. R. China
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, Shenzhen, P. R. China
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44
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Li Y, Xu T, Zou H, Chen X, Sun D, Yang M. Cell migration microfluidics for electrotaxis-based heterogeneity study of lung cancer cells. Biosens Bioelectron 2016; 89:837-845. [PMID: 27816579 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2016.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2016] [Revised: 09/30/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Tumor metastasis involves the migration of cells from primary site to a distant location. Recently, it was established that cancer cells from the same tumor were heterogeneous in migratory ability. Numerous studies have demonstrated that cancer cells undergo reorientation and migration directionally under physiological electric field (EF), which has potential implications in metastasis. Microfluidic devices with channel structures of defined dimensions provide controllable microenvironments to enable real-time observation of cell migration. In this study, we developed two polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based microfluidic devices for long-term electrotaxis study. In the first chip, three different intensities of EFs were generated in a single channel to study cell electrotactic behavior with high efficiency. We observed that the lung adenocarcinoma H1975 cells underwent cathodal migration with changing cellular orientation. To address the issue of cell electrotactic heterogeneity, we also developed a cell isolation device integrating cell immobilization structure, stable EF generator and cell retrieval module in one microfluidic chip to sort out different cell subpopulations based on electrotactic ability. High electrotactic and low electrotactic cells were harvested separately for colony formation assay and transcriptional analysis of migration-related genes. The results showed that H1975 cell motility was related to EGFR expression in the absence of EF stimulation, while in the presence of EF it was associated with PTEN expression. Up-regulation of RhoA was observed in cells with high motility, regardless of EF. The easy cell manipulation and precise field control of the microfluidic devices may enable further study of tumor heterogeneity in complex electrotactic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaping Li
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology, Biotech and Health Centre, Shenzhen, Research Institutes of City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
| | - Tao Xu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China
| | - Heng Zou
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology, Biotech and Health Centre, Shenzhen, Research Institutes of City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaomei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology, Biotech and Health Centre, Shenzhen, Research Institutes of City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
| | - Dong Sun
- Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Mengsu Yang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology, Biotech and Health Centre, Shenzhen, Research Institutes of City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China.
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Mohammadi MH, Heidary Araghi B, Beydaghi V, Geraili A, Moradi F, Jafari P, Janmaleki M, Valente KP, Akbari M, Sanati-Nezhad A. Skin Diseases Modeling using Combined Tissue Engineering and Microfluidic Technologies. Adv Healthc Mater 2016; 5:2459-2480. [PMID: 27548388 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201600439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2016] [Revised: 05/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, both tissue engineering and microfluidics have significantly contributed in engineering of in vitro skin substitutes to test the penetration of chemicals or to replace damaged skins. Organ-on-chip platforms have been recently inspired by the integration of microfluidics and biomaterials in order to develop physiologically relevant disease models. However, the application of organ-on-chip on the development of skin disease models is still limited and needs to be further developed. The impact of tissue engineering, biomaterials and microfluidic platforms on the development of skin grafts and biomimetic in vitro skin models is reviewed. The integration of tissue engineering and microfluidics for the development of biomimetic skin-on-chip platforms is further discussed, not only to improve the performance of present skin models, but also for the development of novel skin disease platforms for drug screening processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Hossein Mohammadi
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering; Sharif University of Technology; Azadi Ave Tehran Iran
| | - Behnaz Heidary Araghi
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering; Sharif University of Technology; Azadi Ave Tehran Iran
| | - Vahid Beydaghi
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering; Sharif University of Technology; Azadi Ave Tehran Iran
| | - Armin Geraili
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering; Sharif University of Technology; Azadi Ave Tehran Iran
| | - Farshid Moradi
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering; Sharif University of Technology; Azadi Ave Tehran Iran
| | - Parya Jafari
- Department of Electrical Engineering; Sharif University of Technology; Azadi Ave Tehran Iran
| | - Mohsen Janmaleki
- Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering; Center for Bioengineering Research and Education; University of Calgary; 2500 University Drive NW Calgary AB Canada
| | - Karolina Papera Valente
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Center for Biomedical Research; University of Victoria; Victoria BC Canada
| | - Mohsen Akbari
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Center for Biomedical Research; University of Victoria; Victoria BC Canada
| | - Amir Sanati-Nezhad
- Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering; Center for Bioengineering Research and Education; University of Calgary; 2500 University Drive NW Calgary AB Canada
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Tatárová Z, Abbuehl JP, Maerkl S, Huelsken J. Microfluidic co-culture platform to quantify chemotaxis of primary stem cells. LAB ON A CHIP 2016; 16:1934-45. [PMID: 27137768 DOI: 10.1039/c6lc00236f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Functional analysis of primary tissue-specific stem cells is hampered by their rarity. Here we describe a greatly miniaturized microfluidic device for the multiplexed, quantitative analysis of the chemotactic properties of primary, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). The device was integrated within a fully customized platform that both increased the viability of stem cells ex vivo and simplified manipulation during multidimensional acquisition. Since primary stem cells can be isolated only in limited number, we optimized the design for efficient cell trapping from low volume and low concentration cell suspensions. Using nanoliter volumes and automated microfluidic controls for pulsed medium supply, our platform is able to create stable gradients of chemoattractant secreted from mammalian producer cells within the device, as was visualized by a secreted NeonGreen fluorescent reporter. The design was functionally validated by a CXCL/CXCR ligand/receptor combination resulting in preferential migration of primary, non-passaged MSC. Stable gradient formation prolonged assay duration and resulted in enhanced response rates for slowly migrating stem cells. Time-lapse video microscopy facilitated determining a number of migratory properties based on single cell analysis. Jackknife-resampling revealed that our assay requires only 120 cells to obtain statistically significant results, enabling new approaches in the research on rare primary stem cells. Compartmentalization of the device not only facilitated such quantitative measurements but will also permit future, high-throughput functional screens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Tatárová
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), ISREC (Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research), Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland.
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Uzel SG, Amadi OC, Pearl TM, Lee RT, So PT, Kamm RD. Simultaneous or Sequential Orthogonal Gradient Formation in a 3D Cell Culture Microfluidic Platform. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2016; 12:612-22. [PMID: 26619365 PMCID: PMC4752442 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201501905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2015] [Revised: 09/04/2015] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Biochemical gradients are ubiquitous in biology. At the tissue level, they dictate differentiation patterning or cell migration. Recapitulating in vitro the complexity of such concentration profiles with great spatial and dynamic control is crucial in order to understand the underlying mechanisms of biological phenomena. Here, a microfluidic design capable of generating diffusion-driven, simultaneous or sequential, orthogonal linear concentration gradients in a 3D cell-embedded scaffold is described. Formation and stability of the orthogonal gradients are demonstrated by computational and fluorescent dextran-based characterizations. Then, system utility is explored in two biological systems. First, stem cells are subjected to orthogonal gradients of morphogens in order to mimic the localized differentiation of motor neurons in the neural tube. Similarly to in vivo, motor neurons preferentially differentiate in regions of high concentration of retinoic acid and smoothened agonist (acting as sonic hedgehog), in a concentration-dependent fashion. Then, a rotating gradient is applied to HT1080 cancer cells and the change in migration direction is investigated as the cells adapt to a new chemical environment. The response time of ≈4 h is reported. These two examples demonstrate the versatility of this new design that can also prove useful in many applications including tissue engineering and drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastien G.M. Uzel
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
| | - Ovid C. Amadi
- Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
| | - Taylor M. Pearl
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
| | - Richard T. Lee
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
| | - Peter T.C. So
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
| | - Roger D. Kamm
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
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48
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Influence of Electric Fields and Conductivity on Pollen Tube Growth assessed via Electrical Lab-on-Chip. Sci Rep 2016; 6:19812. [PMID: 26804186 PMCID: PMC4726441 DOI: 10.1038/srep19812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Pollen tubes are polarly growing plant cells that are able to rapidly respond to a combination of chemical, mechanical, and electrical cues. This behavioural feature allows them to invade the flower pistil and deliver the sperm cells in highly targeted manner to receptive ovules in order to accomplish fertilization. How signals are perceived and processed in the pollen tube is still poorly understood. Evidence for electrical guidance in particular is vague and highly contradictory. To generate reproducible experimental conditions for the investigation of the effect of electric fields on pollen tube growth we developed an Electrical Lab-on-Chip (ELoC). Pollen from the species Camellia displayed differential sensitivity to electric fields depending on whether the entire cell or only its growing tip was exposed. The response to DC fields was dramatically higher than that to AC fields of the same strength. However, AC fields were found to restore and even promote pollen growth. Surprisingly, the pollen tube response correlated with the conductivity of the growth medium under different AC frequencies—consistent with the notion that the effect of the field on pollen tube growth may be mediated via its effect on the motion of ions.
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Generation of Gradients on a Microfluidic Device: Toward a High-Throughput Investigation of Spermatozoa Chemotaxis. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0142555. [PMID: 26555941 PMCID: PMC4640579 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Various research tools have been used for in vitro detection of sperm chemotaxis. However, they are typically poor in maintenance of gradient stability, not to mention their low efficiency. Microfluidic device offers a new experimental platform for better control over chemical concentration gradient than traditional ones. In the present study, an easy-handle diffusion-based microfluidic chip was established. This device allowed for conduction of three parallel experiments on the same chip, and improved the performance of sperm chemotaxis research. In such a chip, there were six channels surrounding a hexagonal pool. The channels are connected to the hexagon by microchannels. Firstly, the fluid flow in the system was characterized; secondly, fluorescein solution was used to calibrate gradient profiles formed in the central hexagon; thirdly, sperm behavior was observed under two concentration gradients of progesterone (100 pM and 1 mM, respectively) as a validation of the device. Significant differences in chemotactic parameters were recognized between experimental and control groups (p < 0.05). Compared with control group, sperm motility was greatly enhanced in 1 mM group (p < 0.05), but no significant difference was found in 100 pM group. In conclusion, we proposed a microfluidic device for the study of sperm chemotaxis that was capable of generating multi-channel gradients on a chip and would help reduce experimental errors and save time in experiment.
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50
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Zou H, Yue W, Yu WK, Liu D, Fong CC, Zhao J, Yang M. Microfluidic Platform for Studying Chemotaxis of Adhesive Cells Revealed a Gradient-Dependent Migration and Acceleration of Cancer Stem Cells. Anal Chem 2015; 87:7098-108. [PMID: 26087892 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b00873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies reveal that solid tumors consist of heterogeneous cells with distinct phenotypes and functions. However, it is unclear how different subtypes of cancer cells migrate under chemotaxis. Here, we developed a microfluidic device capable of generating multiple stable gradients, culturing cells on-chip, and monitoring single cell migratory behavior. The microfluidic platform was used to study gradient-induced chemotaxis of lung cancer stem cell (LCSC) and differentiated LCSC (dLCSC) in real time. Our results showed the dynamic and differential response of both LCSC and dLCSC to chemotaxis, which was regulated by the β-catenin dependent Wnt signaling pathway. The microfluidic analysis showed that LCSC and dLCSC from the same origin behaved differently in the same external stimuli, suggesting the importance of cancer cell heterogeneity. We also observed for the first time the acceleration of both LCSC and dLCSC during chemotaxis caused by increasing local concentration in different gradients, which could only be realized through the microfluidic approach. The capability to analyze single cell chemotaxis under spatially controlled conditions provides a novel analytical platform for the study of cellular microenvironments and cancer cell metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng Zou
- †Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.,‡Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology, Biotech and Health Centre, Shenzhen Research Institutes of City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Wanqing Yue
- †Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.,‡Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology, Biotech and Health Centre, Shenzhen Research Institutes of City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Wai-Kin Yu
- †Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Dandan Liu
- †Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Chi-Chun Fong
- †Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.,‡Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology, Biotech and Health Centre, Shenzhen Research Institutes of City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianlong Zhao
- §State Key Lab of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengsu Yang
- †Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.,‡Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology, Biotech and Health Centre, Shenzhen Research Institutes of City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
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