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Li M, Qiu J, Li R, Liu Y, Du Y, Liu Y, Sun M, Zhao X, Zhao Q. Robotic Intracellular Pressure Measurement Using Micropipette Electrode. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:4973. [PMID: 37430885 DOI: 10.3390/s23104973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Intracellular pressure, a key physical parameter of the intracellular environment, has been found to regulate multiple cell physiological activities and impact cell micromanipulation results. The intracellular pressure may reveal the mechanism of these cells' physiological activities or improve the micro-manipulation accuracy for cells. The involvement of specialized and expensive devices and the significant damage to cell viability that the current intracellular pressure measurement methods cause significantly limit their wide applications. This paper proposes a robotic intracellular pressure measurement method using a traditional micropipette electrode system setup. First, the measured resistance of the micropipette inside the culture medium is modeled to analyze its variation trend when the pressure inside the micropipette increases. Then, the concentration of KCl solution filled inside the micropipette electrode that is suitable for intracellular pressure measurement is determined according to the tested electrode resistance-pressure relationship; 1 mol/L KCl solution is our final choice. Further, the measurement resistance of the micropipette electrode inside the cell is modeled to measure the intracellular pressure through the difference in key pressure before and after the release of the intracellular pressure. Based on the above work, a robotic measurement procedure of the intracellular pressure is established based on a traditional micropipette electrode system. The experimental results on porcine oocytes demonstrate that the proposed method can operate on cells at an average speed of 20~40 cells/day with measurement efficiency comparable to the related work. The average repeated error of the relationship between the measured electrode resistance and the pressure inside the micropipette electrode is less than 5%, and no observable intracellular pressure leakage was found during the measurement process, both guaranteeing the measurement accuracy of intracellular pressure. The measured results of the porcine oocytes are in accordance with those reported in related work. Moreover, a 90% survival rate of operated oocytes was obtained after measurement, proving limited damage to cell viability. Our method does not rely on expensive instruments and is conducive to promotion in daily laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghui Li
- Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information System, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
- Institute of Intelligence Technology and Robotic Systems, Shenzhen Research Institute of Nankai University, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Jinyu Qiu
- Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information System, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
- Institute of Intelligence Technology and Robotic Systems, Shenzhen Research Institute of Nankai University, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Ruimin Li
- Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information System, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
- Institute of Intelligence Technology and Robotic Systems, Shenzhen Research Institute of Nankai University, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Yuzhu Liu
- Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information System, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
- Institute of Intelligence Technology and Robotic Systems, Shenzhen Research Institute of Nankai University, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Yue Du
- Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information System, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
- Institute of Intelligence Technology and Robotic Systems, Shenzhen Research Institute of Nankai University, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Yaowei Liu
- Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information System, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
- Institute of Intelligence Technology and Robotic Systems, Shenzhen Research Institute of Nankai University, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Mingzhu Sun
- Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information System, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
- Institute of Intelligence Technology and Robotic Systems, Shenzhen Research Institute of Nankai University, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Xin Zhao
- Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information System, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
- Institute of Intelligence Technology and Robotic Systems, Shenzhen Research Institute of Nankai University, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Qili Zhao
- Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information System, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
- Institute of Intelligence Technology and Robotic Systems, Shenzhen Research Institute of Nankai University, Shenzhen 518083, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Intelligent Robots and Systems, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
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Guan Z, Chen S, Pan F, Fan L, Sun D. Effects of Gene Delivery Approaches on Differentiation Potential and Gene Function of Mesenchymal Stem Cells. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2021; 69:83-95. [PMID: 34101578 DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2021.3087129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Introduction of a gene to mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is a well-known strategy to purposely manipulate the cell fate and further enhance therapeutic performance in cell-based therapy. Viral and chemical approaches for gene delivery interfere with differentiation potential. Although microinjection as a physical delivery method is commonly used for transfection, its influence on MSC cell fate is not fully understood. The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of four nonviral gene delivery methods on stem cell multi-potency. The four delivery methods are robotic microinjection, polyethylenimine (PEI), cationic liposome (cLipo), and calcium phosphate nanoparticles (CaP). Among the four methods, microinjection has exhibited the highest transfection efficiency of ~60%, while the three others showed lower efficiency of 10-25%. Robotic microinjection preserved fibroblast-like cell morphology, stress fibre intactness, and mature focal adhesion complex, while PEI caused severe cytotoxicity. No marked differentiation bias was observed after microinjection and cLipo treatment. By contrast, CaP-treated MSCs exhibited excessive osteogenesis, while PEI-treated MSCs showed excessive adipogenesis. Robotic microinjection system was used to inject the CRISPR/Cas9-encoding plasmid to knock out PPAR gene in MSCs, and the robotic microinjection did not interfere with PPAR function in differentiation commitment. Meanwhile, the bias in osteo-adipogenic differentiation exhibited in CaP and PEI-treated MSCs after PPAR knockout via chemical carriers. Our results indicate that gene delivery vehicles variously disturb MSCs differentiation and interfere with exogenous gene function. Our findings further suggest that robotic microinjection offers a promise of generating genetically modified MSCs without disrupting stem cell multi-potency and therapeutic gene function.
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Ma Y, Gu M, Chen L, Shen H, Pan Y, Pang Y, Miao S, Tong R, Huang H, Zhu Y, Sun L. Recent advances in critical nodes of embryo engineering technology. Theranostics 2021; 11:7391-7424. [PMID: 34158857 PMCID: PMC8210615 DOI: 10.7150/thno.58799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The normal development and maturation of oocytes and sperm, the formation of fertilized ova, the implantation of early embryos, and the growth and development of foetuses are the biological basis of mammalian reproduction. Therefore, research on oocytes has always occupied a very important position in the life sciences and reproductive medicine fields. Various embryo engineering technologies for oocytes, early embryo formation and subsequent developmental stages and different target sites, such as gene editing, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) technologies, have all been established and widely used in industrialization. However, as research continues to deepen and target species become more advanced, embryo engineering technology has also been developing in a more complex and sophisticated direction. At the same time, the success rate also shows a declining trend, resulting in an extension of the research and development cycle and rising costs. By studying the existing embryo engineering technology process, we discovered three critical nodes that have the greatest impact on the development of oocytes and early embryos, namely, oocyte micromanipulation, oocyte electrical activation/reconstructed embryo electrofusion, and the in vitro culture of early embryos. This article mainly demonstrates the efforts made by researchers in the relevant technologies of these three critical nodes from an engineering perspective, analyses the shortcomings of the current technology, and proposes a plan and prospects for the development of embryo engineering technology in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youwen Ma
- School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Mingwei Gu
- School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Liguo Chen
- School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Hao Shen
- School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yifan Pan
- School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yan Pang
- School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Sheng Miao
- School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Ruiqing Tong
- Cardiology, Dushuhu Public Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, China
| | - Haibo Huang
- School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yichen Zhu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Cambridge-Suda Genomic Resource Center, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Lining Sun
- School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics & Systems, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
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Abstract
Oocyte enucleation is a critical procedure for somatic cell nuclear transfer. Yet, the main steps of oocyte enucleation are still manually operated, which presents several drawbacks such as low precision, high repetition error, and long training time for operators. For improving the operation efficiency and success rate, a robotic precise oocyte blind enucleation method is presented in this paper. The proposed method involves the following key techniques: oocyte translation control, oocyte immobilization and penetration control, and enucleation volume control based on the adaptive slide mode. Compared with the manual blind enucleation method, the proposed robotic blind enucleation method reduced the operation time by 44.5% (manual method: 62 s vs. proposed method: 34.4 s), increased the accuracy of enucleation by 83.1% (manual method: 30.7 vs. proposed method: 5.2), increased the success rate from 80% to 93.3%, and increased the cleavage rate from 41.7% to 63.3%.
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