1
|
Bhalla N, Shen AQ. Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensing and its Interplay with Fluidics. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024; 40:9842-9854. [PMID: 38684953 PMCID: PMC11100005 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c00374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
In this Feature Article, we discuss the interplay between fluidics and the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) sensing technique, primarily focusing on its applications in the realm of bio/chemical sensing within fluidic environments. Commencing with a foundational overview of LSPR principles from a sensing perspective, we subsequently showcase the development of a streamlined LSPR chip integrated with microfluidic structures. This integration opens the doors to advanced experiments involving fluid dynamics, greatly expanding the scope of LSPR-based research. Our discussions then turn to the practical implementation of LSPR and microfluidics in real-time biosensing, with a specific emphasis on monitoring DNA polymerase activity. Additionally, we illustrate the direct sensing of biological fluids, exemplified by the analysis of urine, while also shedding light on a unique particle assembly process that occurs on LSPR chips. We not only discuss the significance of LSPR sensing but also explore its potential to investigate a plethora of phenomena at liquid-liquid and solid-liquid interfaces. This is particularly noteworthy, as existing transduction methods and sensors fall short in fully comprehending these interfacial phenomena. Concluding our discussion, we present a futuristic perspective that provides insights into potential opportunities emerging at the intersection of fluidics and LSPR sensing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nikhil Bhalla
- Nanotechnology
and Integrated Bioengineering Centre (NIBEC), School of Engineering, Ulster University, Belfast BT15 1AP, United Kingdom
- Healthcare
Technology Hub, School of Engineering, Ulster
University, Belfast BT15 1AP, United Kingdom
| | - Amy Q. Shen
- Micro/Bio/Nanofluidics
Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology
Graduate Univerisity, Onna-son, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lin J, Zhang Q, Xie T, Wu Z, Hou Y, Song Y, Lin Y, Lin JM. Understanding Macrophage-Tumor Interactions: Insights from Single-Cell Behavior Monitoring in a Sessile Microdroplet System. SMALL METHODS 2024:e2301659. [PMID: 38623914 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202301659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Interaction between tumor-associated macrophages and tumor cells is crucial for tumor development, metastasis, and the related immune process. However, the macrophages are highly heterogeneous spanning from anti-tumorigenic to pro-tumorigenic, which needs to be understood at the single-cell level. Herein, a sessile microdroplet system designed for monitoring cellular behavior and analyzing intercellular interaction, demonstrated with macrophage-tumor cell pairs is presented. An automatic procedure based on the inkjet printing method is utilized for the precise pairing and co-encapsulation of heterotypic cells within picoliter droplets. The sessile nature of microdroplets ensures controlled fusion and provides stable environments conducive to adherent cell culture. The nitric oxide generation and morphological changes over incubation are explored to reveal the complicated interactions from a single-cell perspective. The immune response of macrophages under distinct cellular microenvironments is recorded. The results demonstrate that the tumor microenvironment displays a modulating role in polarizing macrophages from anti-tumorigenic into pro-tumorigenic phenotype. The approach provides a versatile and compatible platform to investigate intercellular interaction at the single-cell level, showing promising potential for advancing single-cell behavior studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxu Lin
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Tianze Xie
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Zengnan Wu
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Ying Hou
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Yang Song
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Yongning Lin
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Jin-Ming Lin
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Bai Y, Zhang X, Wang X, Xu M, Yang J, Hu N. Controllable and Stable Fusion Strategy on Microfluidics. Anal Chem 2024; 96:4437-4445. [PMID: 38501259 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c04592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
This paper presents a microfluidic device with 200 cell "cage" structures. Based on this microfluidics device, a new simple and stable electrofusion method was developed. Under hydrodynamic force, the cells moved to the desired "cage" cell capture structure and efficiently formed cell pairs (∼80.0 ± 4.6%). Intimate intercellular connectivity was induced by the precise modulation of hypotonic solution substitution and the microstructure, which ensured no cell movement or displacement during the cell electroporation/electrofusion process. It also guaranteed repeated electroporation occurring in the same contact region and provided a stable cell membrane recombination and a cell fusion microenvironment. When the pulse signal was applied, a high fusion efficiency of ∼88.3 ± 0.6% was demonstrated on the microfluidic device.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yaqi Bai
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education and Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Xiaoling Zhang
- School of Smart Health, Chongqing College of Electronic Engineering, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Xuefeng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education and Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Mengli Xu
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education and Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Jun Yang
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education and Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Ning Hu
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education and Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Yoon H, Sabaté Del Río J, Cho SW, Park TE. Recent advances in micro-physiological systems for investigating tumor metastasis and organotropism. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:1351-1366. [PMID: 38303676 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc01033c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Tumor metastasis involves complex processes that traditional 2D cultures and animal models struggle to fully replicate. Metastatic tumors undergo a multitude of transformations, including genetic diversification, adaptation to diverse microenvironments, and modified drug responses, contributing significantly to cancer-related mortality. Micro-physiological systems (MPS) technology emerges as a promising approach to emulate the metastatic process by integrating critical biochemical, biomechanical, and geometrical cues at a microscale. These systems are particularly advantageous simulating metastasis organotropism, the phenomenon where tumors exhibit a preference for metastasizing to particular organs. Organotropism is influenced by various factors, such as tumor cell characteristics, unique organ microenvironments, and organ-specific vascular conditions, all of which can be effectively examined using MPS. This review surveys the recent developments in MPS research from the past five years, with a specific focus on their applications in replicating tumor metastasis and organotropism. Furthermore, we discuss the current limitations in MPS-based studies of organotropism and propose strategies for more accurately replicating and analyzing the intricate aspects of organ-specific metastasis, which is pivotal in the development of targeted therapeutic approaches against metastatic cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heejeong Yoon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Information and Biotechnology, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jonathan Sabaté Del Río
- Center for Algorithmic and Robotized Synthesis (CARS), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Woo Cho
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Information and Biotechnology, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea.
| | - Tae-Eun Park
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Information and Biotechnology, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Tang X, Huang Q, Arai T, Liu X. Cell pairing for biological analysis in microfluidic devices. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2022; 16:061501. [PMID: 36389274 PMCID: PMC9646252 DOI: 10.1063/5.0095828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Cell pairing at the single-cell level usually allows a few cells to contact or seal in a single chamber and provides high-resolution imaging. It is pivotal for biological research, including understanding basic cell functions, creating cancer treatment technologies, developing drugs, and more. Laboratory chips based on microfluidics have been widely used to trap, immobilize, and analyze cells due to their high efficiency, high throughput, and good biocompatibility properties. Cell pairing technology in microfluidic devices provides spatiotemporal research on cellular interactions and a highly controlled approach for cell heterogeneity studies. In the last few decades, many researchers have emphasized cell pairing research based on microfluidics. They designed various microfluidic device structures for different biological applications. Herein, we describe the current physical methods of microfluidic devices to trap cell pairs. We emphatically summarize the practical applications of cell pairing in microfluidic devices, including cell fusion, cell immunity, gap junction intercellular communication, cell co-culture, and other applications. Finally, we review the advances and existing challenges of the presented devices and then discuss the possible development directions to promote medical and biological research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqing Tang
- Key Laboratory of Biomimetic Robots and Systems, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Control and Decision of Complex System, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots and Systems, and School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Qiang Huang
- Key Laboratory of Biomimetic Robots and Systems, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Control and Decision of Complex System, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots and Systems, and School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Tatsuo Arai
- Key Laboratory of Biomimetic Robots and Systems, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Control and Decision of Complex System, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots and Systems, and School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xiaoming Liu
- Key Laboratory of Biomimetic Robots and Systems, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Control and Decision of Complex System, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots and Systems, and School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Tiemeijer BM, Descamps L, Hulleman J, Sleeboom JJF, Tel J. A Microfluidic Approach for Probing Heterogeneity in Cytotoxic T-Cells by Cell Pairing in Hydrogel Droplets. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:1910. [PMID: 36363930 PMCID: PMC9692327 DOI: 10.3390/mi13111910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Cytotoxic T-cells (CTLs) exhibit strong effector functions to leverage antigen-specific anti-tumoral and anti-viral immunity. When naïve CTLs are activated by antigen-presenting cells (APCs) they display various levels of functional heterogeneity. To investigate this, we developed a single-cell droplet microfluidics platform that allows for deciphering single CTL activation profiles by multi-parameter analysis. We identified and correlated functional heterogeneity based on secretion profiles of IFNγ, TNFα, IL-2, and CD69 and CD25 surface marker expression levels. Furthermore, we strengthened our approach by incorporating low-melting agarose to encapsulate pairs of single CTLs and artificial APCs in hydrogel droplets, thereby preserving spatial information over cell pairs. This approach provides a robust tool for high-throughput and single-cell analysis of CTLs compatible with flow cytometry for subsequent analysis and sorting. The ability to score CTL quality, combined with various potential downstream analyses, could pave the way for the selection of potent CTLs for cell-based therapeutic strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bart M. Tiemeijer
- Laboratory of Immunoengineering, Department Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Lucie Descamps
- Laboratory of Immunoengineering, Department Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Jesse Hulleman
- Laboratory of Immunoengineering, Department Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Jelle J. F. Sleeboom
- Microsystems, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Jurjen Tel
- Laboratory of Immunoengineering, Department Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Chen Z, Liu X, Tang X, Li Y, Liu D, Li Y, Huang Q, Arai T. On-Chip Automatic Trapping and Rotating for Zebrafish Embryo Injection. IEEE Robot Autom Lett 2022. [DOI: 10.1109/lra.2022.3194959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhuo Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Control and Decision of Complex System, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots and Systems, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoming Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Control and Decision of Complex System, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots and Systems, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoqing Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Control and Decision of Complex System, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots and Systems, Beijing, China
| | - Yuyang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Control and Decision of Complex System, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots and Systems, Beijing, China
| | - Dan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Control and Decision of Complex System, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots and Systems, Beijing, China
| | - Yuke Li
- State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Control and Decision of Complex System, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots and Systems, Beijing, China
| | - Qiang Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Control and Decision of Complex System, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots and Systems, Beijing, China
| | - Tatsuo Arai
- State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Control and Decision of Complex System, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots and Systems, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Wu Y, Chang Y, Shao Y, Guo G, Liu Z, Wang X. Controllable Fabrication of Small-Size Holding Pipets for the Nondestructive Manipulation of Suspended Living Single Cells. Anal Chem 2022; 94:4924-4929. [PMID: 35298884 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c00418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The capture and manipulation of single cells are an important premise and basis for intracellular delivery, which provides abundant molecular and omics information for biomedical development. However, for intracellular delivery of cargos into/from small-size suspended living single cells, the capture methods are limited by the lack of small-size holding pipets, poor cell activity, and the low spatial accuracy of intracellular delivery. To solve these problems, a method for the controllable fabrication of small-size holding pipets was proposed. A simple, homemade microforge instrument including an imaging device was built to cut and melt the glass capillary tip by controlling the heat production of a nichrome wire. The controllable fabrication of small-size holding pipets was realized by observing the fabrication process in real time. Combined with an electroosmotic drive system and a micromanipulation system with high spatial resolution, the holding pipet achieved the active capture, movement, and sampling of suspended living single cells. Moreover, solid-phase microextraction was performed on captured single pheochromocytoma cells, and the extracted dopamine was successfully detected using an electrochemical method. The homemade microforge instrument overcame the limitations of traditional microforges, resulting in holding pipets that were sufficiently small for small-size suspended single living cells (5-30 μm). This proactive capture method overcame the shortcomings of existing methods to achieve the multiangle, high-precision manipulation of single cells, thereby allowing the intracellular delivery of small-size single cells in suspension with high spatiotemporal resolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Wu
- Center of Excellence for Environmental Safety and Biological Effects, Beijing Key Laboratory for Green Catalysis and Separation, Department of Chemistry and Biology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Yaran Chang
- Center of Excellence for Environmental Safety and Biological Effects, Beijing Key Laboratory for Green Catalysis and Separation, Department of Chemistry and Biology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Yunlong Shao
- Center of Excellence for Environmental Safety and Biological Effects, Beijing Key Laboratory for Green Catalysis and Separation, Department of Chemistry and Biology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Guangsheng Guo
- Center of Excellence for Environmental Safety and Biological Effects, Beijing Key Laboratory for Green Catalysis and Separation, Department of Chemistry and Biology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China.,Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Zhihong Liu
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Xiayan Wang
- Center of Excellence for Environmental Safety and Biological Effects, Beijing Key Laboratory for Green Catalysis and Separation, Department of Chemistry and Biology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Luo X, Chen JY, Ataei M, Lee A. Microfluidic Compartmentalization Platforms for Single Cell Analysis. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:58. [PMID: 35200319 PMCID: PMC8869497 DOI: 10.3390/bios12020058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Many cellular analytical technologies measure only the average response from a cell population with an assumption that a clonal population is homogenous. The ensemble measurement often masks the difference among individual cells that can lead to misinterpretation. The advent of microfluidic technology has revolutionized single-cell analysis through precise manipulation of liquid and compartmentalizing single cells in small volumes (pico- to nano-liter). Due to its advantages from miniaturization, microfluidic systems offer an array of capabilities to study genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics of a large number of individual cells. In this regard, microfluidic systems have emerged as a powerful technology to uncover cellular heterogeneity and expand the depth and breadth of single-cell analysis. This review will focus on recent developments of three microfluidic compartmentalization platforms (microvalve, microwell, and microdroplets) that target single-cell analysis spanning from proteomics to genomics. We also compare and contrast these three microfluidic platforms and discuss their respective advantages and disadvantages in single-cell analysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuhao Luo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; (X.L.); (J.-Y.C.)
| | - Jui-Yi Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; (X.L.); (J.-Y.C.)
| | - Marzieh Ataei
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA;
| | - Abraham Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; (X.L.); (J.-Y.C.)
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
He CK, Hsu CH. Microfluidic technology for multiple single-cell capture. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2021; 15:061501. [PMID: 34777676 PMCID: PMC8577867 DOI: 10.1063/5.0057685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic devices are widely used in single-cell capture and for pairing single cells or groups of cells for cell-cell interaction analysis; these advances have improved drug screening and cell signal transduction analysis. The complex in vivo environment involves interactions between two cells and among multiple cells of the same or different phenotypes. This study reviewed the core principles and performance of several microfluidic multiple- and single-cell capture methods, namely, the microwell, valve, trap, and droplet methods. The advantages and disadvantages of the methods were compared, and suggestions regarding their application to multiple-cell capture were provided. The results may serve as a reference for research on microfluidic multiple single-cell coculture technology.
Collapse
|
11
|
Fan L, Guan Z, Luo T, Ren J, Lam RHW, Sun D. High-throughput deterministic pairing and coculturing of single cells in a microwell array using combined hydrodynamic and recirculation flow captures. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2021; 15:054103. [PMID: 34737839 PMCID: PMC8550803 DOI: 10.1063/5.0066668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Single-cell level coculture facilitates the study of cellular interactions for uncovering unknown physiological mechanisms, which are crucial for the development of new therapies for diseases. However, efficient approaches for high-throughput deterministic pairing of single cells and traceable coculture remain lacking. In this study, we report a new microfluidic device, which combines hydrodynamic and recirculation flow captures, to achieve high-throughput and deterministic pairing of single cells in a microwell array for traceable coculture. Compared with the existing techniques, the developed device exhibits advantages with regard to pairing efficiency, throughput, determinacy, and traceability. Through repeating a two-step method, which sequentially captures single cells in a meandering channel and a microwell array, cell number and type can be easily controlled. Double and triple single-cell pairings have been demonstrated with an efficiency of 72.2% and 38.0%, respectively. Cellular engulfment using two breast cell lines is investigated on a developed microfluidic chip as a biological case study, in which the morphological characteristics and the incidence rate are analyzed. This research provides an efficient and reliable alternative for the coculture of single cells on the microfluidic platform for various biomedical applications, such as studying cellular engulfment and tumor sphere formation under single-cell pairing condition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lei Fan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhangyan Guan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tao Luo
- Department of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Jifeng Ren
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Raymond H. W. Lam
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Dong Sun
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Pang L, Ding J, Liu XX, Kou Z, Guo L, Xu X, Fan SK. Microfluidics-Based Single-Cell Research for Intercellular Interaction. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:680307. [PMID: 34458252 PMCID: PMC8397490 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.680307] [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: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Intercellular interaction between cell-cell and cell-ECM is critical to numerous biology and medical studies, such as stem cell differentiation, immunotherapy and tissue engineering. Traditional methods employed for delving into intercellular interaction are limited by expensive equipment and sophisticated procedures. Microfluidics technique is considered as one of the powerful measures capable of precisely capturing and manipulating cells and achieving low reagent consumption and high throughput with decidedly integrated functional components. Over the past few years, microfluidics-based systems for intercellular interaction study at a single-cell level have become frequently adopted. This review focuses on microfluidic single-cell studies for intercellular interaction in a 2D or 3D environment with a variety of cell manipulating techniques and applications. The challenges to be overcome are highlighted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Long Pang
- School of Basic Medical Science, The Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganism and Tumor Immunity, Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Jing Ding
- Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States
| | - Xi-Xian Liu
- Key Laboratory of Thermo-Fluid Science and Engineering of MOE, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Zhixuan Kou
- School of Basic Medical Science, The Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganism and Tumor Immunity, Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Lulu Guo
- School of Basic Medical Science, The Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganism and Tumor Immunity, Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Xi Xu
- School of Basic Medical Science, The Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganism and Tumor Immunity, Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Shih-Kang Fan
- Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Tang X, Liu X, Li P, Liu D, Kojima M, Huang Q, Arai T. Efficient Single-Cell Mechanical Measurement by Integrating a Cell Arraying Microfluidic Device With Magnetic Tweezer. IEEE Robot Autom Lett 2021. [DOI: 10.1109/lra.2021.3062793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
|
14
|
Li Y, Liu X, Huang Q, Ohta AT, Arai T. Bubbles in microfluidics: an all-purpose tool for micromanipulation. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:1016-1035. [PMID: 33538756 DOI: 10.1039/d0lc01173h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades, the integration of microfluidic devices and multiple actuation technologies at the microscale has greatly contributed to the progress of related fields. In particular, microbubbles are playing an increasingly important role in microfluidics because of their unique characteristics that lead to specific responses to different energy sources and gas-liquid interactions. Many effective and functional bubble-based micromanipulation strategies have been developed and improved, enabling various non-invasive, selective, and precise operations at the microscale. This review begins with a brief introduction of the morphological characteristics and formation of microbubbles. The theoretical foundations and working mechanisms of typical micromanipulations based on acoustic, thermodynamic, and chemical microbubbles in fluids are described. We critically review the extensive applications and the frontline advances of bubbles in microfluidics, including microflow patterns, position and orientation control, biomedical applications, and development of bubble-based microrobots. We lastly present an outlook to provide directions for the design and application of microbubble-based micromanipulation tools and attract the attention of relevant researchers to the enormous potential of microbubbles in microfluidics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuyang Li
- Key Laboratory of Biomimetic Robots and Systems, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Control and Decision of Complex System, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots and Systems, School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|