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Rahnama A, Vaithiyanathan M, Briceno-Mena L, Dugas TM, Yates KL, Romagnoli JA, Melvin AT. A microfluidic approach to study variations in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii alkaline phosphatase activity in response to phosphate availability. Analyst 2024; 149:4256-4266. [PMID: 38895826 DOI: 10.1039/d4an00619d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Algal growth depends strongly on phosphorus (P) as a key nutrient, underscoring the significance of monitoring P levels. Algal species display a sensitive response to fluctuations in P availability, notably through the expression of alkaline phosphatase (AP) when challenged with P-depletion. As such, alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) serves as a valuable metric for P availability, offering insights into how algae utilize and fix available P resources. However, current APA quantification methods lack single cell resolution, while also being time- and reagent consuming. Microfluidics offers a promising cost-effective solution to these limitations, providing a platform for precise single-cell analysis. In this study, a trap-based microfluidic device was integrated with a commercially available AP live stain to study the single cell APA response of a model algae strain, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, when exposed to different exogenous P levels. A three-step culture-starve-spike process was used to induce APA in cells cultured under two different basal P levels (1 and 21 mM). When challenged with different spiked P levels (ranging from 0.1-41 mM), C. reinhardtii cells demonstrated a highly heterogeneous APA response. Two-way ANOVA confirmed that this response is influenced by both spiked and basal P levels. Utilizing an unsupervised machine learning approach (HDBSCAN), distinct subpopulations of C. reinhardtii cells were identified exhibiting varying levels of APA at the single-cell level. These subpopulations encompass significant groups of individual cells with either notably high or low APA, contributing to the overall behavior of the cohorts. Considerable intrapopulation differences in APA were observed across cohorts with similar average behavior. For instance, while some cohorts exhibited a concentrated distribution around the overall average APA, others displayed subpopulations dispersed across a wider range of APA levels. This underscores the potential bias introduced by analyzing a small number of cells in bulk, which may skew results by overrepresenting extreme behavioral subpopulations. The findings if this study highlight the need for analytical approaches that account for single cell heterogeneity in APA and demonstrate the utility of microfluidics as a well-suited means for such investigations. This study illuminates the complexities of APA regulation at the single cell level, providing crucial insights that advance our understanding of algal phosphorus metabolism and environmental responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Rahnama
- Cain Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA.
| | - Manibarathi Vaithiyanathan
- Cain Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA.
| | - Luis Briceno-Mena
- Cain Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA.
| | - Travis M Dugas
- Cain Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA.
| | - Kelly L Yates
- Cain Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA.
| | - Jose A Romagnoli
- Cain Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA.
| | - Adam T Melvin
- Cain Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803, USA.
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, 29634, USA
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Huang S, Shi W, Li S, Fan Q, Yang C, Cao J, Wu L. Advanced sequencing-based high-throughput and long-read single-cell transcriptome analysis. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:2601-2621. [PMID: 38669201 DOI: 10.1039/d4lc00105b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Cells are the fundamental building blocks of living systems, exhibiting significant heterogeneity. The transcriptome connects the cellular genotype and phenotype, and profiling single-cell transcriptomes is critical for uncovering distinct cell types, states, and the interplay between cells in development, health, and disease. Nevertheless, single-cell transcriptome analysis faces daunting challenges due to the low abundance and diverse nature of RNAs in individual cells, as well as their heterogeneous expression. The advent and continuous advancements of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and third-generation sequencing (TGS) technologies have solved these problems and facilitated the high-throughput, sensitive, full-length, and rapid profiling of single-cell RNAs. In this review, we provide a broad introduction to current methodologies for single-cell transcriptome sequencing. First, state-of-the-art advancements in high-throughput and full-length single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) platforms using NGS are reviewed. Next, TGS-based long-read scRNA-seq methods are summarized. Finally, a brief conclusion and perspectives for comprehensive single-cell transcriptome analysis are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanqing Huang
- Discipline of Intelligent Instrument and Equipment, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Weixiong Shi
- Discipline of Intelligent Instrument and Equipment, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Shiyu Li
- Discipline of Intelligent Instrument and Equipment, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Qian Fan
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Nucleic Acid Chemistry and Nanomedicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China.
| | - Chaoyong Yang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Nucleic Acid Chemistry and Nanomedicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China.
- Discipline of Intelligent Instrument and Equipment, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Jiao Cao
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Nucleic Acid Chemistry and Nanomedicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China.
| | - Lingling Wu
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Nucleic Acid Chemistry and Nanomedicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China.
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Cheng L, Lv X, Zhou W, Li H, Yang Q, Chen X, Wu Y. A Microfluidic Chip for Single-Cell Capture Based on Stagnation Point Flow and Boundary Effects. MICROMACHINES 2024; 15:456. [PMID: 38675267 PMCID: PMC11051830 DOI: 10.3390/mi15040456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
The capture of individual cells using microfluidic chips represents a widely adopted and efficient approach for investigating the biochemical microenvironment of singular cells. While conventional methods reliant on boundary effects pose challenges in precisely manipulating individual cells, single-cell capture grounded in the principle of stagnation point flow offers a solution to this limitation. Nevertheless, such capture mechanisms encounter inconsistency due to the instability of the flow field and stagnation point. In this study, a microfluidic device for the stable capture of single cells was designed, integrating the principle of fluid mechanics by amalgamating stagnation point flow and boundary effects. This innovative microfluidic chip transcended the limitations associated with single methodologies, leveraging the strengths of both stagnation point flow and boundary effects to achieve reliable single-cell capture. Notably, the incorporation of capture ports at the stagnation point not only harnessed boundary effects but also enhanced capture efficiency significantly, elevating it from 31.9% to 83.3%, thereby augmenting capture stability. Furthermore, computational simulations demonstrated the efficacy of the capture ports in entrapping particles of varying diameters, including 9 μm, 14 μm, and 18 μm. Experiment validation underscored the capability of this microfluidic system to capture single cells within the chip, maintaining stability even under flow rate perturbations spanning from 60 μL/min to 120 μL/min. Consequently, cells with dimensions between 8 μm and 12 μm can be reliably captured. The designed microfluidic system not only furnishes a straightforward and efficient experimental platform but also holds promise for facilitating deeper investigations into the intricate interplay between individual cells and their surrounding microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Cheng
- Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130033, China; (L.C.); (X.L.); (Q.Y.); (X.C.); (Y.W.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Optics, Changchun 130033, China
- Key Laboratory of Optical System Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130033, China
| | - Xiao Lv
- Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130033, China; (L.C.); (X.L.); (Q.Y.); (X.C.); (Y.W.)
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Optics, Changchun 130033, China
- Key Laboratory of Optical System Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130033, China
| | - Wenchao Zhou
- Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130033, China; (L.C.); (X.L.); (Q.Y.); (X.C.); (Y.W.)
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Optics, Changchun 130033, China
- Key Laboratory of Optical System Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130033, China
| | - Huan Li
- Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130033, China; (L.C.); (X.L.); (Q.Y.); (X.C.); (Y.W.)
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Optics, Changchun 130033, China
- Key Laboratory of Optical System Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130033, China
| | - Qiushuang Yang
- Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130033, China; (L.C.); (X.L.); (Q.Y.); (X.C.); (Y.W.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Optics, Changchun 130033, China
- Key Laboratory of Optical System Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130033, China
| | - Xing Chen
- Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130033, China; (L.C.); (X.L.); (Q.Y.); (X.C.); (Y.W.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Optics, Changchun 130033, China
- Key Laboratory of Optical System Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130033, China
| | - Yihui Wu
- Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130033, China; (L.C.); (X.L.); (Q.Y.); (X.C.); (Y.W.)
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Optics, Changchun 130033, China
- Key Laboratory of Optical System Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130033, China
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Hou Y, Yao H, Lin JM. Recent advancements in single-cell metabolic analysis for pharmacological research. J Pharm Anal 2023; 13:1102-1116. [PMID: 38024859 PMCID: PMC10658044 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpha.2023.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular heterogeneity is crucial for understanding tissue biology and disease pathophysiology. Pharmacological research is being advanced by single-cell metabolic analysis, which offers a technique to identify variations in RNA, proteins, metabolites, and drug molecules in cells. In this review, the recent advancement of single-cell metabolic analysis techniques and their applications in drug metabolism and drug response are summarized. High-precision and controlled single-cell isolation and manipulation are provided by microfluidics-based methods, such as droplet microfluidics, microchamber, open microfluidic probe, and digital microfluidics. They are used in tandem with variety of detection techniques, including optical imaging, Raman spectroscopy, electrochemical detection, RNA sequencing, and mass spectrometry, to evaluate single-cell metabolic changes in response to drug administration. The advantages and disadvantages of different techniques are discussed along with the challenges and future directions for single-cell analysis. These techniques are employed in pharmaceutical analysis for studying drug response and resistance pathway, therapeutic targets discovery, and in vitro disease model evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Hou
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Hongren Yao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Jin-Ming Lin
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
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Haddad M, Frickenstein A, Wilhelm S. High-Throughput Single-Cell Analysis of Nanoparticle-Cell Interactions. Trends Analyt Chem 2023; 166:117172. [PMID: 37520860 PMCID: PMC10373476 DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2023.117172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Understanding nanoparticle-cell interactions at single-nanoparticle and single-cell resolutions is crucial to improving the design of next-generation nanoparticles for safer, more effective, and more efficient applications in nanomedicine. This review focuses on recent advances in the continuous high-throughput analysis of nanoparticle-cell interactions at the single-cell level. We highlight and discuss the current trends in continual flow high-throughput methods for analyzing single cells, such as advanced flow cytometry techniques and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry methods, as well as their intersection in the form of mass cytometry. This review further discusses the challenges and opportunities with current single-cell analysis approaches and provides proposed directions for innovation in the high-throughput analysis of nanoparticle-cell interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majood Haddad
- Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, 73019, USA
| | - Alex Frickenstein
- Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, 73019, USA
| | - Stefan Wilhelm
- Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, 73019, USA
- Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73104, USA
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Technology (IBEST), University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, 73019, USA
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Wei W, Wang Y, Wang Z, Duan X. Microscale acoustic streaming for biomedical and bioanalytical applications. Trends Analyt Chem 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2023.116958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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7
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He X, Liu X, Zuo F, Shi H, Jing J. Artificial intelligence-based multi-omics analysis fuels cancer precision medicine. Semin Cancer Biol 2023; 88:187-200. [PMID: 36596352 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
With biotechnological advancements, innovative omics technologies are constantly emerging that have enabled researchers to access multi-layer information from the genome, epigenome, transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, and more. A wealth of omics technologies, including bulk and single-cell omics approaches, have empowered to characterize different molecular layers at unprecedented scale and resolution, providing a holistic view of tumor behavior. Multi-omics analysis allows systematic interrogation of various molecular information at each biological layer while posing tricky challenges regarding how to extract valuable insights from the exponentially increasing amount of multi-omics data. Therefore, efficient algorithms are needed to reduce the dimensionality of the data while simultaneously dissecting the mysteries behind the complex biological processes of cancer. Artificial intelligence has demonstrated the ability to analyze complementary multi-modal data streams within the oncology realm. The coincident development of multi-omics technologies and artificial intelligence algorithms has fuelled the development of cancer precision medicine. Here, we present state-of-the-art omics technologies and outline a roadmap of multi-omics integration analysis using an artificial intelligence strategy. The advances made using artificial intelligence-based multi-omics approaches are described, especially concerning early cancer screening, diagnosis, response assessment, and prognosis prediction. Finally, we discuss the challenges faced in multi-omics analysis, along with tentative future trends in this field. With the increasing application of artificial intelligence in multi-omics analysis, we anticipate a shifting paradigm in precision medicine becoming driven by artificial intelligence-based multi-omics technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiujing He
- Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, Clinical Research Center for Breast, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Xiaowei Liu
- Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, Clinical Research Center for Breast, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Fengli Zuo
- Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, Clinical Research Center for Breast, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Hubing Shi
- Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, Clinical Research Center for Breast, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Jing Jing
- Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, Clinical Research Center for Breast, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.
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Feng J, Neuzil J, Manz A, Iliescu C, Neuzil P. Microfluidic trends in drug screening and drug delivery. Trends Analyt Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2022.116821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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