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Laha S, Dhar D, Adak M, Bandopadhyay A, Das S, Chatterjee J, Chakraborty S. Electric field-mediated adhesive dynamics of cells inside bio-functionalised microchannels offers important cues for active control of cell-substrate adhesion. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:2610-2623. [PMID: 38426537 DOI: 10.1039/d4sm00083h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Adhesive dynamics of cells plays a critical role in determining different biophysical processes orchestrating health and disease in living systems. While the rolling of cells on functionalised substrates having similarity with biophysical pathways appears to be extensively discussed in the literature, the effect of an external stimulus in the form of an electric field on the same remains underemphasized. Here, we bring out the interplay of fluid shear and electric field on the rolling dynamics of adhesive cells in biofunctionalised micro-confinements. Our experimental results portray that an electric field, even restricted to low strengths within the physiologically relevant regimes, can significantly influence the cell adhesion dynamics. We quantify the electric field-mediated adhesive dynamics of the cells in terms of two key parameters, namely, the voltage-altered rolling velocity and the frequency of adhesion. The effect of the directionality of the electric field with respect to the flow direction is also analysed by studying cellular migration with electrical effects acting both along and against the flow. Our experiment, on one hand, demonstrates the importance of collagen functionalisation in the adhesive dynamics of cells through micro channels, while on the other hand, it reveals how the presence of an axial electric field can lead to significant alteration in the kinetic rate of bond breakage, thereby modifying the degree of cell-substrate adhesion and quantifying in terms of the adhesion frequency of the cells. Proceeding further forward, we offer a simple theoretical explanation towards deriving the kinetics of cellular bonding in the presence of an electric field, which corroborates favourably with our experimental outcome. These findings are likely to offer fundamental insights into the possibilities of local control of cellular adhesion via electric field mediated interactions, bearing critical implications in a wide variety of medical conditions ranging from wound healing to cancer metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sampad Laha
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India.
| | - Dhruba Dhar
- School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India
| | - Mainak Adak
- National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, India
| | - Aditya Bandopadhyay
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India.
| | - Soumen Das
- School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India
| | - Jyotirmoy Chatterjee
- School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India
| | - Suman Chakraborty
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India.
- School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India
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Zhang Z, Shi Z, Ahmed D. SonoTransformers: Transformable acoustically activated wireless microscale machines. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2314661121. [PMID: 38289954 PMCID: PMC10861920 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2314661121] [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] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Shape transformation, a key mechanism for organismal survival and adaptation, has gained importance in developing synthetic shape-shifting systems with diverse applications ranging from robotics to bioengineering. However, designing and controlling microscale shape-shifting materials remains a fundamental challenge in various actuation modalities. As materials and structures are scaled down to the microscale, they often exhibit size-dependent characteristics, and the underlying physical mechanisms can be significantly affected or rendered ineffective. Additionally, surface forces such as van der Waals forces and electrostatic forces become dominant at the microscale, resulting in stiction and adhesion between small structures, making them fracture and more difficult to deform. Furthermore, despite various actuation approaches, acoustics have received limited attention despite their potential advantages. Here, we introduce "SonoTransformer," the acoustically activated micromachine that delivers shape transformability using preprogrammed soft hinges with different stiffnesses. When exposed to an acoustic field, these hinges concentrate sound energy through intensified oscillation and provide the necessary force and torque for the transformation of the entire micromachine within milliseconds. We have created machine designs to predetermine the folding state, enabling precise programming and customization of the acoustic transformation. Additionally, we have shown selective shape transformable microrobots by adjusting acoustic power, realizing high degrees of control and functional versatility. Our findings open new research avenues in acoustics, physics, and soft matter, offering new design paradigms and development opportunities in robotics, metamaterials, adaptive optics, flexible electronics, and microtechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyuan Zhang
- Acoustic Robotics Systems Lab, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, ZurichCH-8803, Switzerland
| | - Zhan Shi
- Acoustic Robotics Systems Lab, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, ZurichCH-8803, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Ahmed
- Acoustic Robotics Systems Lab, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, ZurichCH-8803, Switzerland
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Yang S, Rufo J, Zhong R, Rich J, Wang Z, Lee LP, Huang TJ. Acoustic tweezers for high-throughput single-cell analysis. Nat Protoc 2023; 18:2441-2458. [PMID: 37468650 PMCID: PMC11052649 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-023-00844-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Acoustic tweezers provide an effective means for manipulating single cells and particles in a high-throughput, precise, selective and contact-free manner. The adoption of acoustic tweezers in next-generation cellular assays may advance our understanding of biological systems. Here we present a comprehensive set of instructions that guide users through device fabrication, instrumentation setup and data acquisition to study single cells with an experimental throughput that surpasses traditional methods, such as atomic force microscopy and micropipette aspiration, by several orders of magnitude. With acoustic tweezers, users can conduct versatile experiments that require the trapping, patterning, pairing and separation of single cells in a myriad of applications ranging across the biological and biomedical sciences. This procedure is widely generalizable and adaptable for investigations in materials and physical sciences, such as the spinning motion of colloids or the development of acoustic-based quantum simulations. Overall, the device fabrication requires ~12 h, the experimental setup of the acoustic tweezers requires 1-2 h and the cell manipulation experiment requires ~30 min to complete. Our protocol is suitable for use by interdisciplinary researchers in biology, medicine, engineering and physics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shujie Yang
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Joseph Rufo
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Ruoyu Zhong
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Joseph Rich
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Zeyu Wang
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Luke P Lee
- Renal Division and Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Department of Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea.
| | - Tony Jun Huang
- Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
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Ding H, Kollipara PS, Yao K, Chang Y, Dickinson DJ, Zheng Y. Multimodal Optothermal Manipulations along Various Surfaces. ACS NANO 2023; 17:9280-9289. [PMID: 37017427 PMCID: PMC10391738 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c00583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Optical tweezers have provided tremendous opportunities for fundamental studies and applications in the life sciences, chemistry, and physics by offering contact-free manipulation of small objects. However, it requires sophisticated real-time imaging and feedback systems for conventional optical tweezers to achieve controlled motion of micro/nanoparticles along textured surfaces, which are required for such applications as high-resolution near-field characterizations of cell membranes with nanoparticles as probes. In addition, most optical tweezers systems are limited to single manipulation modes, restricting their broader applications. Herein, we develop an optothermal platform that enables the multimodal manipulation of micro/nanoparticles along various surfaces. Specifically, we achieve the manipulation of micro/nanoparticles through the synergy between the optical and thermal forces, which arise due to the temperature gradient self-generated by the particles absorbing the light. With a simple control of the laser beam, we achieve five switchable working modes [i.e., tweezing, rotating, rolling (toward), rolling (away), and shooting] for the versatile manipulation of both synthesized particles and biological cells along various substrates. More interestingly, we realize the manipulation of micro/nanoparticles on rough surfaces of live worms and their embryos for localized control of biological functions. By enabling the three-dimensional control of micro/nano-objects along various surfaces, including topologically uneven biological tissues, our multimodal optothermal platform will become a powerful tool in life sciences, nanotechnology, and colloidal sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongru Ding
- Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Pavana Siddhartha Kollipara
- Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Kan Yao
- Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
- Materials Science & Engineering Program and Texas Materials Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Yiran Chang
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Daniel J Dickinson
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Yuebing Zheng
- Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
- Materials Science & Engineering Program and Texas Materials Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
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Ding H, Chen Z, Ponce C, Zheng Y. Optothermal rotation of micro-/nano-objects. Chem Commun (Camb) 2023; 59:2208-2221. [PMID: 36723196 PMCID: PMC10189788 DOI: 10.1039/d2cc06955e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Due to its contactless and fuel-free operation, optical rotation of micro-/nano-objects provides tremendous opportunities for cellular biology, three-dimensional (3D) imaging, and micro/nanorobotics. However, complex optics, extremely high operational power, and the applicability to limited objects restrict the broader use of optical rotation techniques. This Feature Article focuses on a rapidly emerging class of optical rotation techniques, termed optothermal rotation. Based on light-mediated thermal phenomena, optothermal rotation techniques overcome the bottlenecks of conventional optical rotation by enabling versatile rotary control of arbitrary objects with simpler optics using lower powers. We start with the fundamental thermal phenomena and concepts: thermophoresis, thermoelectricity, thermo-electrokinetics, thermo-osmosis, thermal convection, thermo-capillarity, and photophoresis. Then, we highlight various optothermal rotation techniques, categorizing them based on their rotation modes (i.e., in-plane and out-of-plane rotation) and the thermal phenomena involved. Next, we explore the potential applications of these optothermal manipulation techniques in areas such as single-cell mechanics, 3D bio-imaging, and micro/nanomotors. We conclude the Feature Article with our insights on the operating guidelines, existing challenges, and future directions of optothermal rotation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongru Ding
- Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Zhihan Chen
- Materials Science & Engineering Program and Texas Materials Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
| | - Carolina Ponce
- Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Yuebing Zheng
- Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Materials Science & Engineering Program and Texas Materials Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
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Ding H, Chen Z, Ponce C, Zheng Y. Optothermal rotation of micro-/nano-objects in liquids. ARXIV 2023:arXiv:2301.04297v2. [PMID: 36713256 PMCID: PMC9882580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Controllable rotation of micro-/nano-objects provides tremendous opportunities for cellular biology, three-dimensional (3D) imaging, and micro/nanorobotics. Among different rotation techniques, optical rotation is particularly attractive due to its contactless and fuel-free operation. However, optical rotation precision is typically impaired by the intrinsic optical heating of the target objects. Optothermal rotation, which harnesses light-modulated thermal effects, features simpler optics, lower operational power, and higher applicability to various objects. In this Feature Article, we discuss the recent progress of optothermal rotation with a focus on work from our research group. We categorize the various rotation techniques based on distinct physical mechanisms, including thermophoresis, thermoelectricity, thermo-electrokinetics, thermo-osmosis, thermal convection, and thermo-capillarity. Benefiting from the different rotation modes (i.e., in-plane and out-of-plane rotation), diverse applications in single-cell mechanics, 3D bio-imaging, and micro/nanomotors are demonstrated. We conclude the article with our perspectives on the operating guidelines, existing challenges, and future directions of optothermal rotation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongru Ding
- Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Zhihan Chen
- Materials Science & Engineering Program and Texas Materials Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Carolina Ponce
- Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Yuebing Zheng
- Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Materials Science & Engineering Program and Texas Materials Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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