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Cho K, Lee J, Kim J. Integrated high-throughput drug screening microfluidic system for comprehensive ocular toxicity assessment. Toxicol In Vitro 2024; 98:105843. [PMID: 38735502 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2024.105843] [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] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Traditional experimental methodologies suffer from a few limitations in the toxicological evaluation of the preservatives added to eye drops. In this study, we overcame these limitations by using a microfluidic device. We developed a microfluidic system featuring a gradient concentration generator for preservative dosage control with microvalves and micropumps, automatically regulated by a programmable Arduino board. This system facilitated the simultaneous toxicological evaluation of human corneal epithelial cells against eight different concentrations of preservatives, allowing for quadruplicate experiments in a single run. In our study, the IC50 values for healthy eyes and those affected with dry eyes syndrome showed an approximately twofold difference. This variation is likely attributable to the duration for which the preservative remained in contact with corneal cells before being washed off by the medium, suggesting the significance of exposure time in the cytotoxic effect of preservatives. Our microfluidic system, automated by Arduino, simulated healthy and dry eye environments to study benzalkonium chloride toxicity and revealed significant differences in cell viability, with IC50 values of 0.0033% for healthy eyes and 0.0017% for dry eyes. In summary, we implemented the pinch-to-zoom feature of an electronic tablet in our microfluidic system, offering innovative alternatives for eye research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyongjin Cho
- Dept. of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinho Lee
- Research Institute of Natural Science and Department of Physics Education, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeongyun Kim
- Dept. of Physics, College of Natural Science, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Republic of Korea.
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2
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Slika H, Karimov Z, Alimonti P, Abou-Mrad T, De Fazio E, Alomari S, Tyler B. Preclinical Models and Technologies in Glioblastoma Research: Evolution, Current State, and Future Avenues. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16316. [PMID: 38003507 PMCID: PMC10671665 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216316] [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] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is the most common malignant primary central nervous system tumor and one of the most debilitating cancers. The prognosis of patients with glioblastoma remains poor, and the management of this tumor, both in its primary and recurrent forms, remains suboptimal. Despite the tremendous efforts that are being put forward by the research community to discover novel efficacious therapeutic agents and modalities, no major paradigm shifts have been established in the field in the last decade. However, this does not mirror the abundance of relevant findings and discoveries made in preclinical glioblastoma research. Hence, developing and utilizing appropriate preclinical models that faithfully recapitulate the characteristics and behavior of human glioblastoma is of utmost importance. Herein, we offer a holistic picture of the evolution of preclinical models of glioblastoma. We further elaborate on the commonly used in vitro and vivo models, delving into their development, favorable characteristics, shortcomings, and areas of potential improvement, which aids researchers in designing future experiments and utilizing the most suitable models. Additionally, this review explores progress in the fields of humanized and immunotolerant mouse models, genetically engineered animal models, 3D in vitro models, and microfluidics and highlights promising avenues for the future of preclinical glioblastoma research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasan Slika
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (H.S.); (Z.K.); (S.A.)
| | - Ziya Karimov
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (H.S.); (Z.K.); (S.A.)
- Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, 35100 Izmir, Turkey
| | - Paolo Alimonti
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy; (P.A.); (E.D.F.)
| | - Tatiana Abou-Mrad
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut P.O. Box 11-0236, Lebanon;
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Emerson De Fazio
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy; (P.A.); (E.D.F.)
| | - Safwan Alomari
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (H.S.); (Z.K.); (S.A.)
| | - Betty Tyler
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (H.S.); (Z.K.); (S.A.)
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3
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Fattahi P, de Hoyos-Vega JM, Choi JH, Duffy CD, Gonzalez-Suarez AM, Ishida Y, Nguyen KM, Gwon K, Peterson QP, Saito T, Stybayeva G, Revzin A. Guiding Hepatic Differentiation of Pluripotent Stem Cells Using 3D Microfluidic Co-Cultures with Human Hepatocytes. Cells 2023; 12:1982. [PMID: 37566061 PMCID: PMC10417547 DOI: 10.3390/cells12151982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are capable of unlimited proliferation and can undergo differentiation to give rise to cells and tissues of the three primary germ layers. While directing lineage selection of hPSCs has been an active area of research, improving the efficiency of differentiation remains an important objective. In this study, we describe a two-compartment microfluidic device for co-cultivation of adult human hepatocytes and stem cells. Both cell types were cultured in a 3D or spheroid format. Adult hepatocytes remained highly functional in the microfluidic device over the course of 4 weeks and served as a source of instructive paracrine cues to drive hepatic differentiation of stem cells cultured in the neighboring compartment. The differentiation of stem cells was more pronounced in microfluidic co-cultures compared to a standard hepatic differentiation protocol. In addition to improving stem cell differentiation outcomes, the microfluidic co-culture system described here may be used for parsing signals and mechanisms controlling hepatic cell fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pouria Fattahi
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (P.F.); (J.M.d.H.-V.); (J.H.C.); (C.D.D.); (A.M.G.-S.); (K.M.N.); (K.G.); (Q.P.P.); (G.S.)
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jose M. de Hoyos-Vega
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (P.F.); (J.M.d.H.-V.); (J.H.C.); (C.D.D.); (A.M.G.-S.); (K.M.N.); (K.G.); (Q.P.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Jong Hoon Choi
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (P.F.); (J.M.d.H.-V.); (J.H.C.); (C.D.D.); (A.M.G.-S.); (K.M.N.); (K.G.); (Q.P.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Caden D. Duffy
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (P.F.); (J.M.d.H.-V.); (J.H.C.); (C.D.D.); (A.M.G.-S.); (K.M.N.); (K.G.); (Q.P.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Alan M. Gonzalez-Suarez
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (P.F.); (J.M.d.H.-V.); (J.H.C.); (C.D.D.); (A.M.G.-S.); (K.M.N.); (K.G.); (Q.P.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Yuji Ishida
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; (Y.I.); (T.S.)
- Research and Development Unit, PhoenixBio Co., Ltd., Higashi-Hiroshima 739-0046, Japan
| | - Kianna M. Nguyen
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (P.F.); (J.M.d.H.-V.); (J.H.C.); (C.D.D.); (A.M.G.-S.); (K.M.N.); (K.G.); (Q.P.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Kihak Gwon
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (P.F.); (J.M.d.H.-V.); (J.H.C.); (C.D.D.); (A.M.G.-S.); (K.M.N.); (K.G.); (Q.P.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Quinn P. Peterson
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (P.F.); (J.M.d.H.-V.); (J.H.C.); (C.D.D.); (A.M.G.-S.); (K.M.N.); (K.G.); (Q.P.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Takeshi Saito
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; (Y.I.); (T.S.)
| | - Gulnaz Stybayeva
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (P.F.); (J.M.d.H.-V.); (J.H.C.); (C.D.D.); (A.M.G.-S.); (K.M.N.); (K.G.); (Q.P.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Alexander Revzin
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; (P.F.); (J.M.d.H.-V.); (J.H.C.); (C.D.D.); (A.M.G.-S.); (K.M.N.); (K.G.); (Q.P.P.); (G.S.)
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Cardoso BD, Castanheira EMS, Lanceros-Méndez S, Cardoso VF. Recent Advances on Cell Culture Platforms for In Vitro Drug Screening and Cell Therapies: From Conventional to Microfluidic Strategies. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2202936. [PMID: 36898671 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202202936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
The clinical translations of drugs and nanomedicines depend on coherent pharmaceutical research based on biologically accurate screening approaches. Since establishing the 2D in vitro cell culture method, the scientific community has improved cell-based drug screening assays and models. Those advances result in more informative biochemical assays and the development of 3D multicellular models to describe the biological complexity better and enhance the simulation of the in vivo microenvironment. Despite the overall dominance of conventional 2D and 3D cell macroscopic culture methods, they present physicochemical and operational challenges that impair the scale-up of drug screening by not allowing a high parallelization, multidrug combination, and high-throughput screening. Their combination and complementarity with microfluidic platforms enable the development of microfluidics-based cell culture platforms with unequivocal advantages in drug screening and cell therapies. Thus, this review presents an updated and consolidated view of cell culture miniaturization's physical, chemical, and operational considerations in the pharmaceutical research scenario. It clarifies advances in the field using gradient-based microfluidics, droplet-based microfluidics, printed-based microfluidics, digital-based microfluidics, SlipChip, and paper-based microfluidics. Finally, it presents a comparative analysis of the performance of cell-based methods in life research and development to achieve increased precision in the drug screening process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz D Cardoso
- Physics Centre of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, Braga, 4710-057, Portugal
- LaPMET-Laboratory of Physics for Materials and Emergent Technologies, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- Center for MicroElectromechanical Systems (CMEMS-UMinho), Campus de Azurém, University of Minho, 4800-058, Guimarães, Portugal
- LABBELS-Associate Laboratory in Biotechnology and Bioengineering and Microelectromechanical Systems, University of Minho, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Elisabete M S Castanheira
- Physics Centre of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, Braga, 4710-057, Portugal
- LaPMET-Laboratory of Physics for Materials and Emergent Technologies, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Senentxu Lanceros-Méndez
- Physics Centre of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, Braga, 4710-057, Portugal
- LaPMET-Laboratory of Physics for Materials and Emergent Technologies, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- BCMaterials, Basque Center for Materials, Applications and Nanostructures, UPV/EHU Science Park, Leioa, 48940, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, 48009, Spain
| | - Vanessa F Cardoso
- Center for MicroElectromechanical Systems (CMEMS-UMinho), Campus de Azurém, University of Minho, 4800-058, Guimarães, Portugal
- LABBELS-Associate Laboratory in Biotechnology and Bioengineering and Microelectromechanical Systems, University of Minho, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
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5
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Vega JMDH, Hong HJ, Loutherback K, Stybayeva G, Revzin A. A Microfluidic Device for Long-Term Maintenance of Organotypic Liver Cultures. ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES 2023; 8:2201121. [PMID: 36818276 PMCID: PMC9937715 DOI: 10.1002/admt.202201121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Liver cultures may be used for disease modeling, testing therapies and predicting drug-induced injury. The complexity of the liver cultures has evolved from hepatocyte monocultures to co-cultures with non-parenchymal cells and finally to precision-cut liver slices. The latter culture format retains liver's native biomolecular and cellular complexity and therefore holds considerable promise for in vitro testing. However, liver slices remain functional for ~72 h in vitro and display limited utility for some disease modeling and therapy testing applications that require longer culture times. This paper describes a microfluidic device for longer-term maintenance of functional organotypic liver cultures. Our microfluidic culture system was designed to enable direct injection of liver tissue into a culture chamber through a valve-enabled side port. Liver tissue was embedded in collagen and remained functional for up to 31 days, highlighted by continued production of albumin and urea. These organotypic cultures also expressed several enzymes involved in xenobiotic metabolism. Conversely, matched liver tissue embedded in collagen in a 96-well plate lost its phenotype and function within 3-5 days. The microfluidic organotypic liver cultures described here represent a significant advance in liver cultivation and may be used for future modeling of liver diseases or for individualized liver-directed therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- José M. de Hoyos Vega
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Hye Jin Hong
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Kevin Loutherback
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Gulnaz Stybayeva
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Alexander Revzin
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
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6
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Harding IC, O'Hare NR, Vigliotti M, Caraballo A, Lee CI, Millican K, Herman IM, Ebong EE. Developing a transwell millifluidic device for studying blood-brain barrier endothelium. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:4603-4620. [PMID: 36326069 PMCID: PMC11416711 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00657j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Blood-brain barrier (BBB) endothelial cell (EC) function depends on flow conditions and on supportive cells, like pericytes and astrocytes, which have been shown to be both beneficial and detrimental for brain EC function. Most studies investigating BBB EC function lack physiological relevance, using sub-physiological shear stress magnitudes and/or omitting pericytes and astrocytes. In this study, we developed a millifluidic device compatible with standard transwell inserts to investigate BBB function. In contrast to standard polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic devices, this model allows for easy, reproducible shear stress exposure without common limitations of PDMS devices such as inadequate nutrient diffusion and air bubble formation. In no-flow conditions, we first used the device to examine the impact of primary human pericytes and astrocytes on human brain microvascular EC (HBMEC) barrier integrity. Astrocytes, pericytes, and a 1-to-1 ratio of both cell types increased HBMEC barrier integrity via reduced 3 and 40 kDa fluorescent dextran permeability and increased claudin-5 expression. There were differing levels of low 3 kDa permeability in HBMEC-pericyte, HBMEC-astrocyte, and HBMEC-astrocyte-pericyte co-cultures, while levels of low 40 kDa permeability were consistent across co-cultures. The 3 kDa findings suggest that pericytes provide more barrier support to the BBB model compared to astrocytes, although both supportive cell types are permeability reducers. Incorporation of 24-hour 12 dynes per cm2 flow significantly reduced dextran permeability in HBMEC monolayers, but not in the tri-culture model. These results indicate that tri-culture may exert more pronounced impact on overall BBB permeability than flow exposure. In both cases, monolayer and tri-culture, flow exposure interestingly reduced HBMEC expression of both claudin-5 and occludin. ZO-1 expression, and localization at cell-cell junctions increased in the tri-culture but exhibited no apparent change in the HBMEC monolayer. Under flow conditions, we also observed HBMEC alignment in the tri-culture but not in HBMEC monolayers, indicating supportive cells and flow are both essential to observe brain EC alignment in vitro. Collectively, these results support the necessity of physiologically relevant, multicellular BBB models when investigating BBB EC function. Consideration of the roles of shear stress and supportive cells within the BBB is critical for elucidating the physiology of the neurovascular unit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian C Harding
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicholas R O'Hare
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, 129 Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Mark Vigliotti
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, 129 Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Alex Caraballo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, 129 Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Claire I Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Karina Millican
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ira M Herman
- Department of Developmental, Molecular, and Chemical Biology, Tufts School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Innovations in Wound Healing Research, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eno E Ebong
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, 129 Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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7
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Sethakorn N, Heninger E, Breneman MT, Recchia E, Ding AB, Jarrard DF, Hematti P, Beebe DJ, Kosoff D. Integrated analysis of the tumor microenvironment using a reconfigurable microfluidic cell culture platform. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22540. [PMID: 36083096 PMCID: PMC9476232 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202200684rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex network of non-malignant cells and stroma that perform a wide array of vital roles in tumor growth, immune evasion, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. These highly diverse roles have been shown to be critically important to the progression of cancers and have already shown potential as therapeutic targets. Therefore, there has been a tremendous push to elucidate the pathways that underlie these roles and to develop new TME-directed therapies for cancer treatment. Unfortunately, TME-focused research has been limited by a lack of translational in vitro culture platforms that can model this highly complex niche and can support the integrated analysis of cell biology and function. In the current study, we investigate whether an independently developed reconfigurable microfluidic platform, known as Stacks, can address the critical need for translational multi-cellular tumor models and integrated analytics in TME research. We present data on multi-cellular culture of primary human cells in Stacks as well as the orthogonal analysis of cellular polarization, differentiation, migration, and cytotoxicity in this reconfigurable system. These expanded capabilities of Stacks are highly relevant to the cancer research community with the potential to enhance clinical translation of pre-clinical TME studies and to yield novel biological insight into TME crosstalk, metastasis, and responses to novel drug combinations or immune therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Sethakorn
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Erika Heninger
- Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Matthew T Breneman
- Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Emma Recchia
- Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Adeline B Ding
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - David F Jarrard
- Department of Urology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Peiman Hematti
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - David J Beebe
- Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - David Kosoff
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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8
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Bashir KMI, Lee S, Jung DH, Basu SK, Cho MG, Wierschem A. Narrow-Gap Rheometry: A Novel Method for Measuring Cell Mechanics. Cells 2022; 11:2010. [PMID: 35805094 PMCID: PMC9265971 DOI: 10.3390/cells11132010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The viscoelastic properties of a cell cytoskeleton contain abundant information about the state of a cell. Cells show a response to a specific environment or an administered drug through changes in their viscoelastic properties. Studies of single cells have shown that chemical agents that interact with the cytoskeleton can alter mechanical cell properties and suppress mitosis. This envisions using rheological measurements as a non-specific tool for drug development, the pharmacological screening of new drug agents, and to optimize dosage. Although there exists a number of sophisticated methods for studying mechanical properties of single cells, studying concentration dependencies is difficult and cumbersome with these methods: large cell-to-cell variations demand high repetition rates to obtain statistically significant data. Furthermore, method-induced changes in the cell mechanics cannot be excluded when working in a nonlinear viscoelastic range. To address these issues, we not only compared narrow-gap rheometry with commonly used single cell techniques, such as atomic force microscopy and microfluidic-based approaches, but we also compared existing cell monolayer studies used to estimate cell mechanical properties. This review provides insight for whether and how narrow-gap rheometer could be used as an efficient drug screening tool, which could further improve our current understanding of the mechanical issues present in the treatment of human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khawaja Muhammad Imran Bashir
- German Engineering Research and Development Center, LSTME-Busan Branch, Busan 46742, Korea; (K.M.I.B.); (S.L.); (D.H.J.); (M.-G.C.)
| | - Suhyang Lee
- German Engineering Research and Development Center, LSTME-Busan Branch, Busan 46742, Korea; (K.M.I.B.); (S.L.); (D.H.J.); (M.-G.C.)
- Institute of Fluid Mechanics, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91058 Erlangen, Germany;
| | - Dong Hee Jung
- German Engineering Research and Development Center, LSTME-Busan Branch, Busan 46742, Korea; (K.M.I.B.); (S.L.); (D.H.J.); (M.-G.C.)
- Division of Energy and Bioengineering, Dongseo University, Busan 47011, Korea
| | - Santanu Kumar Basu
- Institute of Fluid Mechanics, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91058 Erlangen, Germany;
| | - Man-Gi Cho
- German Engineering Research and Development Center, LSTME-Busan Branch, Busan 46742, Korea; (K.M.I.B.); (S.L.); (D.H.J.); (M.-G.C.)
- Division of Energy and Bioengineering, Dongseo University, Busan 47011, Korea
| | - Andreas Wierschem
- German Engineering Research and Development Center, LSTME-Busan Branch, Busan 46742, Korea; (K.M.I.B.); (S.L.); (D.H.J.); (M.-G.C.)
- Institute of Fluid Mechanics, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91058 Erlangen, Germany;
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9
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The Effect of Dynamic, In Vivo-like Oxaliplatin on HCT116 Spheroids in a Cancer-on-Chip Model Is Representative of the Response in Xenografts. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:mi13050739. [PMID: 35630206 PMCID: PMC9146796 DOI: 10.3390/mi13050739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The cancer xenograft model in which human cancer cells are implanted in a mouse is one of the most used preclinical models to test the efficacy of novel cancer drugs. However, the model is imperfect; animal models are ethically burdened, and the imperfect efficacy predictions contribute to high clinical attrition of novel drugs. If microfluidic cancer-on-chip models could recapitulate key elements of the xenograft model, then these models could substitute the xenograft model and subsequently surpass the xenograft model by reducing variation, increasing sensitivity and scale, and adding human factors. Here, we exposed HCT116 colorectal cancer spheroids to dynamic, in vivo-like, concentrations of oxaliplatin, including a 5 day drug-free period, on-chip. Growth inhibition on-chip was comparable to existing xenograft studies. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry showed a similar response in proliferation and apoptosis markers. While small volume changes in xenografts are hard to detect, in the chip-system, we could observe a temporary growth delay. Lastly, histopathology and a pharmacodynamic model showed that the cancer spheroid-on-chip was representative of the proliferating outer part of a HCT116 xenograft, thereby capturing the major driver of the drug response of the xenograft. Hence, the cancer-on-chip model recapitulated the response of HCT116 xenografts to oxaliplatin and provided additional drug efficacy information.
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10
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Investigating Cancerous Exosomes’ Effects on CD8+ T-Cell IL-2 Production in a 3D Unidirectional Flow Bioreactor Using 3D Printed, RGD-Functionalized PLLA Scaffolds. J Funct Biomater 2022; 13:jfb13010030. [PMID: 35323230 PMCID: PMC8950614 DOI: 10.3390/jfb13010030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Exosomes from cancer cells are implicated in cancer progression and metastasis, carrying immunosuppressive factors that limit the antitumor abilities of immune cells. The development of a real-time, 3D cell/scaffold construct flow perfusion system has been explored as a novel tool in the study of T-cells and exosomes from cancer cells. Exosomes from human lung cancer (H1299 and A549) cells were co-cultured in a unidirectional flow bioreactor with CD8+ T-cells immobilized onto 3D-printed RGD-functionalized poly(L-lactic) acid (PLLA) scaffolds and assessed for IL-2 production. The IL-2 production was investigated for a wide range of T-cell to exosome ratios. With the successful incorporation of the RGD binding motif onto the PLLA surface at controllable densities, CD8+ T-cells were successfully attached onto 2D disks and 3D printed porous PLLA scaffolds. T-cell attachment increased with increasing RGD surface density. The diameter of the attached T-cells was 7.2 ± 0.2 µm for RGD densities below 0.5 nmoles/mm2 but dropped to 5.1 ± 0.3 µm when the RGD density was 2 nmoles/mm2 due to overcrowding. The higher the number of cancer exosomes, the less the IL-2 production by the surface-attached T-cells. In 2D disks, the IL-2 production was silenced for T-cell to exosome ratios higher than 1:10 in static conditions. IL-2 production silencing in static 3D porous scaffolds required ratios higher than 1:20. The incorporation of flow resulted in moderate to significant T-cell detachment. The portions of T-cells retained on the 3D scaffolds after exposure for 4 h to 0.15 or 1.5 mL/min of perfusion flow were 89 ± 11% and 30 ± 8%, respectively. On 3D scaffolds and in the presence of flow at 0.15 ml/min, both H1299 and A549 cancerous exosomes significantly suppressed IL-2 production for T-cell to exosome ratios of 1:1000. The much higher level of exosomes needed to silence the IL-2 production from T-cells cultured under unidirectional flow, compared to static conditions, denotes the importance of the culturing conditions and the hydrodynamic environment, on the interactions between CD8+ T-cells and cancer exosomes.
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11
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Moon J, Kang C, Kang H. Vertical Alignment of Liquid Crystals on Phenylphenoxymethyl-Substituted Polystyrene-PS Derivatives Structurally Similar to LC Molecules. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:934. [PMID: 35267756 PMCID: PMC8912853 DOI: 10.3390/polym14050934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A series of polystyrene derivatives containing precursors of liquid crystal (LC) molecules, phenylphenoxymethyl-substituted polystyrene (PPHE#; # = 5, 15, 25, 50, 75, and 100)-where # is the molar content of 4-phenylphenol using polymer modification reactions-were prepared in order to examine the effect of the polymer film, which possess similar LC molecular structure on the LC alignment properties. It was found that the Tg values of the PPHE# were higher than 100 °C due to their aromatic structure in the biphenyl-based PHE moiety. The LC cells fabricated with PPHE5 and PPHE15 films exhibited planar LC alignment. Conversely, LC molecules showed a vertical alignment in LC cells made using the polymer films with phenylphenoxymethyl side groups in the range of 25-100 mol %. The polar surface energies on the PPHE# films can be associated with the vertical LC alignment on the PPHE# films. For example, vertical LC alignment was exhibited when the polar surface energy of the polymer films was less than approximately 4.2 mJ/m2. Aligning stability was observed at 200 °C and UV irradiation of 20 J/cm2 for LC cells made using the PPHE100 film. Therefore, it was found that biphenyl, one of the LC precursors, modified polystyrene derivatives and can produce a next-generation vertical LC alignment system.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Hyo Kang
- BK-21 Four Graduate Program, Department of Chemical Engineering, Dong-A University, 37 Nakdong-Daero, 550 Beon-gil, Saha–gu, Busan 49315, Korea; (J.M.); (C.K.)
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12
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Moore RP, O'Shaughnessy EC, Shi Y, Nogueira AT, Heath KM, Hahn KM, Legant WR. A multi-functional microfluidic device compatible with widefield and light sheet microscopy. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 22:136-147. [PMID: 34859808 PMCID: PMC9022779 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00600b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We present a microfluidic device compatible with high resolution light sheet and super-resolution microscopy. The device is a 150 μm thick chamber with a transparent fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) cover that has a similar refractive index (1.34) to water (1.33), making it compatible with top-down imaging used in light sheet microscopy. We provide a detailed fabrication protocol and characterize the optical performance of the device. We demonstrate that the device supports long-term imaging of cell growth and differentiation as well as the rapid addition and removal of reagents while simultaneously maintaining sterile culture conditions by physically isolating the sample from the dipping lenses used for imaging. Finally, we demonstrate that the device can be used for super-resolution imaging using lattice light sheet structured illumination microscopy (LLS-SIM) and DNA PAINT. We anticipate that FEP-based microfluidics, as shown here, will be broadly useful to researchers using light sheet microscopy due to the ability to switch reagents, image weakly adherent cells, maintain sterility, and physically isolate the specimen from the optics of the instruments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regan P Moore
- Joint Biomedical Engineering Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
| | - Ellen C O'Shaughnessy
- Pharmacology Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Yu Shi
- Joint Biomedical Engineering Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
| | - Ana T Nogueira
- Pharmacology Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Katelyn M Heath
- Joint Biomedical Engineering Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
| | - Klaus M Hahn
- Pharmacology Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Wesley R Legant
- Joint Biomedical Engineering Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Pharmacology Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
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Lou Q, Ma Y, Zhao SP, Du GS, Fang Q. A flexible and cost-effective manual droplet operation platform for miniaturized cell assays and single cell analysis. Talanta 2021; 224:121874. [PMID: 33379083 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2020.121874] [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: 08/08/2020] [Revised: 11/01/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Herein, we developed a flexible and cost-effective manual droplet operation system (MDOS) for performing miniaturized cell assays as well as single cell analysis. The MDOS consists of a manual x-y-z translation stage for liquid transferring and switching, a high-precision syringe pump for liquid driving and metering, a tapered capillary probe for droplet manipulation, a droplet array chip for droplet loading and reaction, sample/reagent reservoirs for storage, and a microscope for droplet observation, with a total expense of only $4,000. By using the flexible combination of three elementary operations of the x-y-z stage's moving and the pump's aspirating and depositing, the MDOS can manually achieve multiple droplet handling operations in the nanoliter to picoliter range, including droplet generation, assembling, fusion, diluting, and splitting. On this basis, multiple cell-related operations could be performed, such as nanoliter-scale in-droplet cell culture, cell coculture, drug stimulation, cell washing, and cell staining, as well as formation of picoliter single-cell droplets. The feasibility and flexibility of the MDOS was demonstrated in multi-mode miniaturized cell assays, including cell-based drug test, first-pass effect assay, and single-cell enzyme assay. The MDOS with the features of low cost, easy to build and flexible to use, could provide a promising alternative for performing miniaturized assays in routine laboratories, in addition to conventional microfluidic chip-based systems and automated robot systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Lou
- Institute of Microanalytical Systems, Department of Chemistry, Key Lab for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yan Ma
- Institute of Microanalytical Systems, Department of Chemistry, Key Lab for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Shi-Ping Zhao
- Institute of Microanalytical Systems, Department of Chemistry, Key Lab for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Guan-Sheng Du
- Institute of Microanalytical Systems, Department of Chemistry, Key Lab for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Qun Fang
- Institute of Microanalytical Systems, Department of Chemistry, Key Lab for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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Vertical Orientation of Liquid Crystal on 4- n-Alkyloxyphenoxymethyl-Substituted Polystyrene Containing Liquid Crystal Precursor. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:polym13050736. [PMID: 33673579 PMCID: PMC7956854 DOI: 10.3390/polym13050736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
We synthesized a series of polystyrene derivatives that were modified with precursors of liquid crystal (LC) molecules, such as 4-ethyloxyphenol (homopolymer PEOP and copolymer PEOP#; # = 20, 40, 60, and 80, where # indicates the molar fraction of 4-ethyloxyphenoxymethyl in the side chain), 4-n-butyloxyphenol (PBOP), 4-n-hexyloxyphenol (PHOP), and 4-n-octyloxyphenol (POOP), via polymer modification reaction to investigate the orientation of LC molecules on polymer films, exhibiting part of the LC molecular structure. LC molecules showed a stable and uniform vertical orientation in LC cells fabricated with polymers that have 4-ethyloxyphenoxymethyl in the range of 40–100 mol%. In addition, similar results were obtained in LC cells fabricated with homopolymers of PEOP, PBOP, PHOP, and POOP. The vertical orientation of LC molecules in LC cells fabricated with polymer films correlated to the surface energy of polymer films. For example, vertical LC orientation was observed when the total surface energies of the polymer films were lower than approximately 43.2 mJ/m2. Good alignment stabilities were observed at 150 °C and 20 J/cm2 of ultraviolet irradiation for LC cells fabricated with PEOP film.
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15
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Kadekar S, Barbe L, Stoddart M, Varghese OP, Tenje M, Mestres G. Effect of the Addition Frequency of 5-Azacytidine in Both Micro- and Macroscale Cultures. Cell Mol Bioeng 2021; 14:121-130. [PMID: 33633814 PMCID: PMC7878657 DOI: 10.1007/s12195-020-00654-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have a great clinical potential for tissue regeneration purposes due to its multilineage capability. Previous studies have reported that a single addition of 5-azacytidine (5-AzaC) causes the differentiation of hMSCs towards a myocardial lineage. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of 5-AzaC addition frequency on hMSCs priming (i.e., indicating an early genetic differentiation) using two culture environments. METHODS hMSCs were supplemented with 5-AzaC while cultured in well plates and in microfluidic chips. The impact of 5-AzaC concentration (10 and 20 μM) and addition frequency (once, daily or continuously), as well as of culture period (2 or 5 days) on the genetic upregulation of PPARγ (adipocytes), PAX3 (myoblasts), SOX9 (chondrocytes) and RUNX2 (osteoblasts) was evaluated. RESULTS Daily delivering 5-AzaC caused a higher upregulation of PPARγ, SOX9 and RUNX2 in comparison to a single dose delivery, both under static well plates and dynamic microfluidic cultures. A particularly high gene expression of PPARγ (tenfold-change) could indicate priming of hMSCs towards adipocytes. CONCLUSIONS Both macro- and microscale cultures provided results with similar trends, where addition frequency of 5-AzaC was a crucial factor to upregulate several genes. Microfluidics technology was proven to be a suitable platform for the continuous delivery of a drug and could be used for screening purposes in tissue engineering research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Kadekar
- Department of Chemistry-Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 21 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Laurent Barbe
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 35, 751 03 Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Oommen P. Varghese
- Department of Chemistry-Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 21 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maria Tenje
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 35, 751 03 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gemma Mestres
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 35, 751 03 Uppsala, Sweden
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Gokce B, Akcok I, Cagir A, Pesen-Okvur D. A new drug testing platform based on 3D tri-culture in lab-on-a-chip devices. Eur J Pharm Sci 2020; 155:105542. [PMID: 32927074 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2020.105542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Drug discovery has a 90% rate of failure because preclinical platforms for drug testing do not mimic the in vivo conditions. Doxorubicin (DOX) is a commonly used drug to treat breast cancer patients even though it has side effects. Lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices provide spatial control at the micrometer scale and can thus emulate the cancer microenvironment. Here, using a multidisciplinary approach, a new drug testing platform based on 3D tri-culture in LOC devices was developed. Breast cancer cells alone or with normal mammary epithelial cells and macrophages were cultured in matrigel in LOC devices. The platform was used to test DOX and (R)-4'-methylklavuzon (KLA), which is a new anti-cancer drug candidate. Results showed that DOX and KLA were equally effective on breast cancer cells in 3D monoculture. KLA produced 26% less death for breast cancer cells than DOX in 3D tri-culture. More importantly, DOX was not selective between breast cancer cells and normal mammary epithelial cells in 3D tri- culture whereas KLA caused 56% less cell death than DOX for normal mammary epithelial cells. Results strongly recommend that 3D tri-culture in LOC devices be used for assessment of drug toxicity at the preclinical stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Begum Gokce
- Izmir Institute of Technology, Biotechnology and Bioengineering Graduate Program, Turkey
| | - Ismail Akcok
- Izmir Institute of Technology, Department of Chemistry, Turkey
| | - Ali Cagir
- Izmir Institute of Technology, Department of Chemistry, Turkey
| | - Devrim Pesen-Okvur
- Izmir Institute of Technology, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Turkey.
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17
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Komen J, Westerbeek EY, Kolkman RW, Roesthuis J, Lievens C, van den Berg A, van der Meer AD. Controlled pharmacokinetic anti-cancer drug concentration profiles lead to growth inhibition of colorectal cancer cells in a microfluidic device. LAB ON A CHIP 2020; 20:3167-3178. [PMID: 32729598 DOI: 10.1039/d0lc00419g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We present a microfluidic device to expose cancer cells to a dynamic, in vivo-like concentration profile of a drug, and quantify efficacy on-chip. About 30% of cancer patients receive drug therapy. In conventional cell culture experiments drug efficacy is tested under static concentrations, e.g. 1 μM for 48 hours, whereas in vivo, drug concentration follows a pharmacokinetic profile with an initial peak and a decline over time. With the rise of microfluidic cell culture models, including organs-on-chips, there are opportunities to more realistically mimic in vivo-like concentrations. Our microfluidic device contains a cell culture chamber and a drug-dosing channel separated by a transparent membrane, to allow for shear stress-free drug exposure and label-free growth quantification. Dynamic drug concentration profiles in the cell culture chamber were controlled by continuously flowing controlled concentrations of drug in the dosing channel. The control over drug concentrations in the cell culture chambers was validated with fluorescence experiments and numerical simulations. Exposure of HCT116 colorectal cancer cells to static concentrations of the clinically used drug oxaliplatin resulted in a sensible dose-effect curve. Dynamic, in vivo-like drug exposure also led to statistically significant lower growth compared to untreated control. Continuous exposure to the average concentration of the in vivo-like exposure seems more effective than exposure to the peak concentration (Cmax) only. We expect that our microfluidic system will improve efficacy prediction of in vitro models, including organs-on-chips, and may lead to future clinical optimization of drug administration schedules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Job Komen
- BIOS Lab on a Chip group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P. O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
| | - Eiko Y Westerbeek
- BIOS Lab on a Chip group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P. O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands. and μFlow Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels 1050, Belgium
| | - Ruben W Kolkman
- BIOS Lab on a Chip group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P. O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands. and Molecular Nanofabrication Group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Julia Roesthuis
- BIOS Lab on a Chip group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P. O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
| | - Caroline Lievens
- Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Albert van den Berg
- BIOS Lab on a Chip group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P. O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
| | - Andries D van der Meer
- Applied Stem Cell Technology, TechMed Centre, University of Twente, P. O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
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18
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Damle VG, Sharmin R, Morita A, Nie L, Schirhagl R. Micro Versus Macro - The Effect of Environmental Confinement on Cellular Nanoparticle Uptake. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:869. [PMID: 32793585 PMCID: PMC7393206 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
While the microenvironment is known to alter the cellular behavior in terms of metabolism, growth and the degree of endoplasmic reticulum stress, its influence on the nanoparticle uptake is not yet investigated. Specifically, it is not clear if the cells cultured in a microenvironment ingest different amounts of nanoparticles than cells cultured in a macroenvironment (for example a petri dish). To answer this question, here we used J774 murine macrophages and fluorescent nanodiamonds (FND) as a model system to systematically compare the uptake efficiency of cells cultured in a petri dish and in a microfluidic channel. Specifically, equal numbers of cells were cultured in two devices followed by the FND incubation. Then cells were fixed, stained and imaged to quantify the FND uptake. We show that the FND uptake in the cells cultured in petri dishes is significantly higher than the uptake in a microfluidic chip where the alteration in CO2 environment, the cell culture medium pH and the surface area to volume ratio seem to be the underlying causes leading to this observed difference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viraj G. Damle
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Rokshana Sharmin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Aryan Morita
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
- Department of Dental Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Linyan Nie
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Romana Schirhagl
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
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Narayanamurthy V, Jeroish ZE, Bhuvaneshwari KS, Bayat P, Premkumar R, Samsuri F, Yusoff MM. Advances in passively driven microfluidics and lab-on-chip devices: a comprehensive literature review and patent analysis. RSC Adv 2020; 10:11652-11680. [PMID: 35496619 PMCID: PMC9050787 DOI: 10.1039/d0ra00263a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of passively driven microfluidic labs on chips has been increasing over the years. In the passive approach, the microfluids are usually driven and operated without any external actuators, fields, or power sources. Passive microfluidic techniques adopt osmosis, capillary action, surface tension, pressure, gravity-driven flow, hydrostatic flow, and vacuums to achieve fluid flow. There is a great need to explore labs on chips that are rapid, compact, portable, and easy to use. The evolution of these techniques is essential to meet current needs. Researchers have highlighted the vast potential in the field that needs to be explored to develop rapid passive labs on chips to suit market/researcher demands. A comprehensive review, along with patent analysis, is presented here, listing the latest advances in passive microfluidic techniques, along with the related mechanisms and applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vigneswaran Narayanamurthy
- Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering Technology, Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka Hang Tuah Jaya 76100 Durian Tunggal Melaka Malaysia
- InnoFuTech No: 42/12, 7th Street, Vallalar Nagar Chennai Tamil Nadu 600072 India
- Centre of Excellence for Advanced Research in Fluid Flow, University Malaysia Pahang Kuantan 26300 Malaysia
| | - Z E Jeroish
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rajalakshmi Engineering College Chennai 602105 India
- Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, University Malaysia Pahang Pekan 26600 Malaysia
| | - K S Bhuvaneshwari
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rajalakshmi Engineering College Chennai 602105 India
- Faculty of Electronics and Computer Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka Hang Tuah Jaya 76100 Durian Tunggal Melaka Malaysia
| | - Pouriya Bayat
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University Montreal QC Canada H3A 0E9
| | - R Premkumar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rajalakshmi Engineering College Chennai 602105 India
| | - Fahmi Samsuri
- Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, University Malaysia Pahang Pekan 26600 Malaysia
| | - Mashitah M Yusoff
- Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology, University Malaysia Pahang Kuantan 26300 Malaysia
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Fleszar AJ, Walker A, Kreeger PK, Notbohm J. Substrate curvature induces fallopian tube epithelial cell invasion via cell-cell tension in a model of ovarian cortical inclusion cysts. Integr Biol (Camb) 2019; 11:342-352. [PMID: 31724713 PMCID: PMC6887516 DOI: 10.1093/intbio/zyz028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Throughout the body, epithelial tissues contain curved features (e.g. cysts, ducts and crypts) that influence cell behaviors. These structures have varied curvature, with flat structures having zero curvature and structures such as crypts having large curvature. In the ovary, cortical inclusion cysts (CICs) of varying curvatures are found, and fallopian tube epithelial (FTE) cells have been found trapped within these cysts. FTE are the precursor for ovarian cancer, and the CIC niche has been proposed to play a role in ovarian cancer progression. We hypothesized that variations in ovarian CIC curvature that occur during cyst resolution impact the ability of trapped FTE cells to invade into the surrounding stroma. Using a lumen model in collagen gels, we determined that increased curvature resulted in more invasions of mouse FTE cells. To isolate curvature as a system parameter, we developed a novel technique to pattern concave curvatures into collagen gels. When FTE cells were seeded to confluency on curved substrates, increases in curvature increased the number of invading FTE cells and the invasion distance. FTE invasion into collagen substrates with higher curvature depended on matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), but expression of collagen I degrading Mmps was not different on curved and flat regions. A finite-element model predicted that contractility and cell-cell connections were essential for increased invasion on substrates with higher curvature, while cell-substrate interactions had minimal effect. Experiments supported these predictions, with invasion decreased by blebbistatin, ethylene glycol-bis(β-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) or N-cadherin-blocking antibody, but with no effect from a focal adhesion kinase inhibitor. Finally, experimental evidence supports that cell invasion on curved substrates occurs in two phases-a cell-cell-dependent initiation phase where individual cells break away from the monolayer and an MMP-dependent phase as cells migrate further into the collagen matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J. Fleszar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - Alyssa Walker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - Pamela K. Kreeger
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, USA
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, USA
| | - Jacob Notbohm
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, USA
- Department of Engineering Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
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21
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Tetrafluoroethylene-Propylene Elastomer for Fabrication of Microfluidic Organs-on-Chips Resistant to Drug Absorption. MICROMACHINES 2019; 10:mi10110793. [PMID: 31752314 PMCID: PMC6915658 DOI: 10.3390/mi10110793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Organs-on-chips are microfluidic devices typically fabricated from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Since PDMS has many attractive properties including high optical clarity and compliance, PDMS is very useful for cell culture applications; however, PDMS possesses a significant drawback in that small hydrophobic molecules are strongly absorbed. This drawback hinders widespread use of PDMS-based devices for drug discovery and development. Here, we describe a microfluidic cell culture system made of a tetrafluoroethylene-propylene (FEPM) elastomer. We demonstrated that FEPM does not absorb small hydrophobic compounds including rhodamine B and three types of drugs, nifedipine, coumarin, and Bay K8644, whereas PDMS absorbs them strongly. The device consists of two FEPM layers of microchannels separated by a thin collagen vitrigel membrane. Since FEPM is flexible and biocompatible, this microfluidic device can be used to culture cells while applying mechanical strain. When human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were subjected to cyclic strain (~10%) for 4 h in this device, HUVECs reoriented and aligned perpendicularly in response to the cyclic stretch. Moreover, we demonstrated that this device can be used to replicate the epithelial–endothelial interface as well as to provide physiological mechanical strain and fluid flow. This method offers a robust platform to produce organs-on-chips for drug discovery and development.
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Cheng JW, Sip CG, Lindstedt PR, Boitano R, Bluestein BM, Gamble LJ, Folch A. “Chip-on-a-Transwell” Devices for User-Friendly Control of the Microenvironment of Cultured Cells. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2019; 2:4998-5011. [DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.9b00672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan W. Cheng
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Box 355061, Seattle, Washington 98195-5061, United States
| | - Christopher G. Sip
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Box 355061, Seattle, Washington 98195-5061, United States
| | - Philip R. Lindstedt
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Box 355061, Seattle, Washington 98195-5061, United States
| | - Ross Boitano
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Box 355061, Seattle, Washington 98195-5061, United States
| | - Blake M. Bluestein
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Box 355061, Seattle, Washington 98195-5061, United States
| | - Lara J. Gamble
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Box 355061, Seattle, Washington 98195-5061, United States
| | - Albert Folch
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Box 355061, Seattle, Washington 98195-5061, United States
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Cedillo-Alcantar DF, Han YD, Choi J, Garcia-Cordero JL, Revzin A. Automated Droplet-Based Microfluidic Platform for Multiplexed Analysis of Biochemical Markers in Small Volumes. Anal Chem 2019; 91:5133-5141. [PMID: 30834743 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b05689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The ability to detect multiple analytes in a small sample volume has significance for numerous areas of research, including organs-on-chip, small animal experiments, and neonatology. The objective of this study was to develop an automated microfluidics platform for multiplexed detection of analytes in microliter sample volumes. This platform employed computer-controlled microvalves to create laminar co-flows of sample and assay reagent solutions. It also contained valve-regulated cross-junction for discretizing sample/reagent mixtures into water-in-oil droplets. Microfluidic automation allowed us to control parameters related to frequency of droplet generation and the number of droplets of the same composition, as well as the size of droplets. Each droplet represented an individual enzymatic assay carried out in a sub-nanoliter (0.8 nL) volume reactor. An enzymatic reaction involving target analyte and assay reagents produced colorimetric or fluorescent signals in droplets. Importantly, intensity of optical signal was proportional to the concentration of analyte in question. This microfluidic bioanalysis platform was used in conjunction with commercial "mix-detect" assays for glucose, total bile acids, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). After characterizing these assays individually, we demonstrated sensitive multiplexed detection of three analytes from as little as 3 μL. In fact, this volume was sufficient to generate multiple repeat droplets for each of the three biochemical assays as well as positive control droplets, confirming the quality of assay reagents and negative control droplets to help with background subtraction. One potential application for this microfluidic bioanalysis platform involves sampling cell-conditioned media in organ-on-chip devices. To highlight this application, hepatocyte spheroids were established in microfluidic devices, injured on-chip by exposure to lipotoxic agent (palmitate), and then connected to the bioanalysis module for daily monitoring of changes in cytotoxicity (LDH), energy metabolism (glucose), and liver function (total bile acids). Microfluidic in-droplet assays revealed increased levels of LDH as well as reduction in bile acid synthesis-results that were consistent with hepatic injury. Importantly, these experiments highlighted the fact that in-droplet assays were sufficiently sensitive to detect changes in functional output of a relatively small (∼100) number of hepatocyte spheroids cultured in a microfluidic device. Moving forward, we foresee increasing the multiplexing capability of this technology and applying this platform to other biological/medical scenarios where detection of multiple analytes from a small sample volume is desired.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana F Cedillo-Alcantar
- Unidad Monterrey , Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional , Vía del Conocimiento 201 , Parque PIIT, Apodaca , Nuevo León CP 66628 , México.,Mayo Clinic , Rochester , Minnesota 55905 , United States
| | - Yong Duk Han
- Mayo Clinic , Rochester , Minnesota 55905 , United States
| | - Jonghoon Choi
- Mayo Clinic , Rochester , Minnesota 55905 , United States
| | - Jose L Garcia-Cordero
- Unidad Monterrey , Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional , Vía del Conocimiento 201 , Parque PIIT, Apodaca , Nuevo León CP 66628 , México
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24
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Dynamic in vitro models for tumor tissue engineering. Cancer Lett 2019; 449:178-185. [PMID: 30763717 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2019.01.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Revised: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Cancer research uses in vitro studies for controllable analysis of tumor behavior and preclinical testing of therapeutics. Shortcomings of basic cell culture systems in recreating in vivo interactions have driven the development of more efficient and biomimetic in vitro environments for cancer research. Assimilation of certain developments in tissue engineering will accelerate and improve the design of these environments. With the continual improvement of the tumor engineering field, the next step is towards macroscopic systems such as scaffold-supported, flow-perfused macroscale tumor bioreactors. Surface modifications of synthetic scaffolds allow for targeted cell adhesion and improved ECM development. Flow perfusion has emerged as means to expose cancerous tissues to critical biomechanical forces for tumor progression while simultaneously improving nutrient and waste transport. Macroscale perfusable systems allow for non-destructive real-time monitoring using biosensors capable of improving understanding of in vitro tumor development at reduced cost and waste. The combination of macroscale perfusable systems, surface-modified synthetic scaffolds, and non-destructive real-time monitoring will provide advanced platforms for in vitro modeling of tumor development, with broad applications in basic tumor research and preclinical drug development.
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SATO K, SATO M, YOKOYAMA M, HIRAI M, FURUTA A. Influence of Culture Conditions on Cell Proliferation in a Microfluidic Channel. ANAL SCI 2019; 35:49-56. [DOI: 10.2116/analsci.18sdp04] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kae SATO
- Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Japan Women’s University
| | - Miwa SATO
- Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Japan Women’s University
| | - Mizuho YOKOYAMA
- Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Japan Women’s University
| | - Mai HIRAI
- Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Japan Women’s University
| | - Aya FURUTA
- Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Japan Women’s University
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26
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Torisawa YS. Microfluidic Organs-on-Chips to Reconstitute Cellular Microenvironments. Bioanalysis 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-6229-3_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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27
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Varma S, Voldman J. Caring for cells in microsystems: principles and practices of cell-safe device design and operation. LAB ON A CHIP 2018; 18:3333-3352. [PMID: 30324208 PMCID: PMC6254237 DOI: 10.1039/c8lc00746b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic device designers and users continually question whether cells are 'happy' in a given microsystem or whether they are perturbed by micro-scale technologies. This issue is normally brought up by engineers building platforms, or by external reviewers (academic or commercial) comparing multiple technological approaches to a problem. Microsystems can apply combinations of biophysical and biochemical stimuli that, although essential to device operation, may damage cells in complex ways. However, assays to assess the impact of microsystems upon cells have been challenging to conduct and have led to subjective interpretation and evaluation of cell stressors, hampering development and adoption of microsystems. To this end, we introduce a framework that defines cell health, describes how device stimuli may stress cells, and contrasts approaches to measure cell stress. Importantly, we provide practical guidelines regarding device design and operation to minimize cell stress, and recommend a minimal set of quantitative assays that will enable standardization in the assessment of cell health in diverse devices. We anticipate that as microsystem designers, reviewers, and end-users enforce such guidelines, we as a community can create a set of essential principles that will further the adoption of such technologies in clinical, translational and commercial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarvesh Varma
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
,
77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 36-824
, Cambridge
, USA
.
; Fax: +617 258 5846
; Tel: +617 253 1583
| | - Joel Voldman
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
,
77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 36-824
, Cambridge
, USA
.
; Fax: +617 258 5846
; Tel: +617 253 1583
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Li Y, Sella C, Lemaître F, Guille-Collignon M, Amatore C, Thouin L. Downstream Simultaneous Electrochemical Detection of Primary Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species Released by Cell Populations in an Integrated Microfluidic Device. Anal Chem 2018; 90:9386-9394. [PMID: 29979582 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b02039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
An innovative microfluidic platform was designed to monitor electrochemically four primary reactive oxygen (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) released by aerobic cells. Taking advantage of the space confinement and electrode performances under flow conditions, only a few experiments were sufficient to directly provide significant statistical data relative to the average behavior of cells during oxidative-stress bursts. The microfluidic platform comprised an upstream microchamber for cell culture and four parallel microchannels located downstream for separately detecting H2O2, ONOO-, NO·, and NO2-. Amperometric measurements were performed at highly sensitive Pt-black electrodes implemented in the microchannels. RAW 264.7 macrophage secretions triggered by a calcium ionophore were used as a way to assess the performance, sensitivity, and specificity of the integrated microfluidic device. In comparison with some previous evaluations achieved from single-cell measurements, reproducible and relevant determinations validated the proof of concept of this microfluidic platform for analyzing statistically significant oxidative-stress responses of various cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Li
- PASTEUR, Département de chimie , École normale supérieure, PSL Université, Sorbonne Université, CNRS , 75005 Paris , France
| | - Catherine Sella
- PASTEUR, Département de chimie , École normale supérieure, PSL Université, Sorbonne Université, CNRS , 75005 Paris , France
| | - Frédéric Lemaître
- PASTEUR, Département de chimie , École normale supérieure, PSL Université, Sorbonne Université, CNRS , 75005 Paris , France
| | - Manon Guille-Collignon
- PASTEUR, Département de chimie , École normale supérieure, PSL Université, Sorbonne Université, CNRS , 75005 Paris , France
| | - Christian Amatore
- PASTEUR, Département de chimie , École normale supérieure, PSL Université, Sorbonne Université, CNRS , 75005 Paris , France
| | - Laurent Thouin
- PASTEUR, Département de chimie , École normale supérieure, PSL Université, Sorbonne Université, CNRS , 75005 Paris , France
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30
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Jastrzebska E, Zuchowska A, Flis S, Sokolowska P, Bulka M, Dybko A, Brzozka Z. Biological characterization of the modified poly(dimethylsiloxane) surfaces based on cell attachment and toxicity assays. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2018; 12:044105. [PMID: 30034568 PMCID: PMC6039296 DOI: 10.1063/1.5035176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/17/2018] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) is a material applicable for tissue and biomedical engineering, especially based on microfluidic devices. PDMS is a material used in studies aimed at understanding cell behavior and analyzing the cell adhesion mechanism. In this work, biological characterization of the modified PDMS surfaces based on cell attachment and toxicity assays was performed. We studied Balb 3T3/c, HMEC-1, and HT-29 cell adhesion on poly(dimethylsiloxane) surfaces modified by different proteins, with and without pre-activation with plasma oxygen and UV irradiation. Additionally, we studied how changing of a base and a curing agent ratios influence cell proliferation. We observed that cell type has a high impact on cell adhesion, proliferation, as well as viability after drug exposure. It was tested that the carcinoma cells do not require a highly specific microenvironment for their proliferation. Cytotoxicity assays with celecoxib and oxaliplatin on the modified PDMS surfaces showed that normal cells, cultured on the modified PDMS, are more sensitive to drugs than cancer cells. Cell adhesion was also tested in the microfluidic systems made of the modified PDMS layers. Thanks to that, we studied how the surface area to volume ratio influences cell behavior. The results presented in this manuscript could be helpful for creation of proper culture conditions during in vitro tests as well as to understand cell response in different states of disease depending on drug exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elzbieta Jastrzebska
- Chair of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego 3, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Zuchowska
- Chair of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego 3, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Sylwia Flis
- Department of Pharmacology, National Medicines Institute, Chelmska 30/34, 00-725 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Patrycja Sokolowska
- Chair of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego 3, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Magdalena Bulka
- Chair of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego 3, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Artur Dybko
- Chair of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego 3, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Zbigniew Brzozka
- Chair of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego 3, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland
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31
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Rico-Varela J, Ho D, Wan LQ. In Vitro Microscale Models for Embryogenesis. ADVANCED BIOSYSTEMS 2018; 2:1700235. [PMID: 30533517 PMCID: PMC6286056 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.201700235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Embryogenesis is a highly regulated developmental process requiring complex mechanical and biochemical microenvironments to give rise to a fully developed and functional embryo. Significant efforts have been taken to recapitulate specific features of embryogenesis by presenting the cells with developmentally relevant signals. The outcomes, however, are limited partly due to the complexity of this biological process. Microtechnologies such as micropatterned and microfluidic systems, along with new emerging embryonic stem cell-based models, could potentially serve as powerful tools to study embryogenesis. The aim of this article is to review major studies involving the culturing of pluripotent stem cells using different geometrical patterns, microfluidic platforms, and embryo/embryoid body-on-a-chip modalities. Indeed, new research opportunities have emerged for establishing in vitro culture for studying human embryogenesis and for high-throughput pharmacological testing platforms and disease models to prevent defects in early stages of human development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Rico-Varela
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy NY 12180
| | - Dominic Ho
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy NY 12180
| | - Leo Q. Wan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy NY 12180
- Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy NY 12180
- Center for Modeling, Simulation and Imaging in Medicine, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy NY 12180
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32
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Kilikevičius A, Balčiūnas E, Kilikevičienė K, Maknickas A, Bukelskienė V, Baltriukienė D, Kačianauskas R. Modelling of silk-reinforced PDMS properties for soft tissue engineering applications. Technol Health Care 2018; 26:679-688. [PMID: 29843291 DOI: 10.3233/thc-182515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is widely used in biomedical research and technology, but its mechanical properties should be tuned according to the desired product specifications. Mixing ratio of base polymer to curing agent or additives enables its mechanical properties to be manipulated and fit to mechanical properties of biological tissues. OBJECTIVE In this paper, we analysed the effect of mechanical load on silk-reinforced PDMS depending on silk concentration. METHODS We prepared cylinder-type PDMS samples with different silk concentrations and performed cyclic uniaxial compression tests with a fixed magnitude of applied strain. Next, we analysed the mechanical charascteristics of PDMS using computational modelling. RESULTS The stress-strain data within the large-strain region of different PDMS cylinders without silk and with 1%, 5% and 10% silk concentrations was fitted to non-linear second order Mooney-Rivlin, and third-order Ogden models. The results show the equivalence of both models for investigated strain region of PDMS. On the other hand, PDMS cylinders with 10% silk concentration allowed the successful fitting of experimental data just for the second-order Mooney-Rivlin model, while all numerical probes to find an appropriate fitting parameters for third-order Ogden models were unsuccessful. CONCLUSIONS The second-order Mooney-Rivlin model is preferable for analysing the properties of silk-reinforced PDMS over the entire measurement range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artūras Kilikevičius
- Institute of Mechanical Science, Faculty of Mechanics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Evaldas Balčiūnas
- Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Kristina Kilikevičienė
- Institute of Mechanical Science, Faculty of Mechanics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Algirdas Maknickas
- Institute of Mechanical Science, Faculty of Mechanics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Virginija Bukelskienė
- Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Daiva Baltriukienė
- Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Rimantas Kačianauskas
- Institute of Mechanical Science, Faculty of Mechanics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Vilnius, Lithuania
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Gheibi P, Son KJ, Stybayeva G, Revzin A. Harnessing endogenous signals from hepatocytes using a low volume multi-well plate. Integr Biol (Camb) 2018; 9:427-435. [PMID: 28353687 DOI: 10.1039/c7ib00010c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocytes are highly differentiated epithelial cells that lose their phenotype and function when removed from the in vivo environment. Given the importance of hepatic cultures for drug toxicity, bioartificial liver assist devices and basic biology studies, considerable efforts have been focused on the maintenance of hepatic function in vitro. The methods used to date include co-cultivation of hepatocytes with stromal cells, organizing these cells into spheroids and imbedding them into bioactive gels. Our team has recently demonstrated that primary rat hepatocytes confined to microfluidic channels in the absence of convection maintained the epithelial phenotype through upregulation of endogenous signals including hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). The objective of the present study was to transition from microfluidic devices, which are somewhat specialized and challenging to use, towards low volume multiwell plates ubiquitous in biology laboratories. Using a combination of 3D printing and micromolding we have constructed inserts that can be placed into standard 12-well plates and can be used to create low volume culture conditions under which primary hepatocytes maintained a differentiated phenotype. This phenotype enhancement was confirmed by hepatic function assays including albumin synthesis and expression. Importantly we confirmed upregulation of HGF inside the low volume culture plates and demonstrated that inhibition of HGF signaling degraded the hepatic phenotype in our cell culture platform. Overall, this study outlines a new cell culture system that leverages the low volume effects of microfluidic channels in a multiwell plate format. Beyond hepatocytes, such a system may be of use in the maintenance of other difficult-to-culture cells including stem cells and primary cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pantea Gheibi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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Georg M, Fernández-Cabada T, Bourguignon N, Karp P, Peñaherrera AB, Helguera G, Lerner B, Pérez MS, Mertelsmann R. Development of image analysis software for quantification of viable cells in microchips. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0193605. [PMID: 29494694 PMCID: PMC5832319 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 02/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past few years, image analysis has emerged as a powerful tool for analyzing various cell biology parameters in an unprecedented and highly specific manner. The amount of data that is generated requires automated methods for the processing and analysis of all the resulting information. The software available so far are suitable for the processing of fluorescence and phase contrast images, but often do not provide good results from transmission light microscopy images, due to the intrinsic variation of the acquisition of images technique itself (adjustment of brightness / contrast, for instance) and the variability between image acquisition introduced by operators / equipment. In this contribution, it has been presented an image processing software, Python based image analysis for cell growth (PIACG), that is able to calculate the total area of the well occupied by cells with fusiform and rounded morphology in response to different concentrations of fetal bovine serum in microfluidic chips, from microscopy images in transmission light, in a highly efficient way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Georg
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University of Freiburg Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Tamara Fernández-Cabada
- National Technological University (UTN), Regional Faculty from Haedo, Paris, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Faculty of Engineering - Institute of Biomedical Engineering - University of Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires C1063ACV, Argentina
| | - Natalia Bourguignon
- National Technological University (UTN), Regional Faculty from Haedo, Paris, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Faculty of Engineering - Institute of Biomedical Engineering - University of Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires C1063ACV, Argentina
| | - Paola Karp
- Biology and Experimental Medicine Institute (IBYME CONICET), Buenos Aires C1428ADN, Argentina
| | - Ana B. Peñaherrera
- National Technological University (UTN), Regional Faculty from Haedo, Paris, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Faculty of Engineering - Institute of Biomedical Engineering - University of Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires C1063ACV, Argentina
| | - Gustavo Helguera
- Biology and Experimental Medicine Institute (IBYME CONICET), Buenos Aires C1428ADN, Argentina
| | - Betiana Lerner
- National Technological University (UTN), Regional Faculty from Haedo, Paris, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Faculty of Engineering - Institute of Biomedical Engineering - University of Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires C1063ACV, Argentina
| | - Maximiliano S. Pérez
- National Technological University (UTN), Regional Faculty from Haedo, Paris, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Faculty of Engineering - Institute of Biomedical Engineering - University of Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires C1063ACV, Argentina
- * E-mail: (RM); (MSP)
| | - Roland Mertelsmann
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University of Freiburg Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany
- * E-mail: (RM); (MSP)
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Günther K, Sonntag F, Moritzer E, Hirsch A, Klotzbach U, Lasagni AF. Universal Micromachining Platform and Basic Technologies for the Manufacture and Marking of Microphysiological Systems. MICROMACHINES 2017; 8:mi8080246. [PMID: 30400437 PMCID: PMC6189959 DOI: 10.3390/mi8080246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Revised: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 08/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Micro Physiological Systems (MPS), also known as Multi-Organ-Chip, Organ-on-a-Chip, or Body-on-a-Chip, are advanced microfluidic systems that allow the cultivation of different types of cells and tissue in just one common circuit. Furthermore, they thus can also adjust the interaction of these different tissues. Perspectival MPS will replace animal testing. For fast and flexible manufacturing and marking of MPS, a concept for a universal micromachining platform has been developed which provides the following latest key technologies: laser micro cutting of polymer foils, laser micro- and sub-micro-structuring of polymer foils, 3D printing of polymer components as well as optical inspection and online process control. The combination of different laser sources, processing optics, inspection systems, and print heads on multiple axes allows the change and exactly positioning to the workpiece during the process. Therewith, the realization of MPS including 3D printed components as well as direct laser interference patterned surfaces for well-defined cell adhesion and product protection is possible. Additional basic technologies for the generation of periodical line-like structures at polycarbonate foils using special Direct Laser Interference Patterning (DLIP) optics as well as for the 3D printing of fluid-tight cell culture reservoirs made of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene directly onto polycarbonate microfluidics were established. A first prototype of the universal micromachining platform combining different lasers with Direct Laser Writing and DLIP is shown. With this laser micro cutting as well as laser micro-structuring of polycarbonate (PC) foils and therewith functionalization for MPS application could be successfully demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Günther
- Institute of Manufacturing Technology, Technische Universität Dresden, George-Baehr-Str.1, 01069 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Frank Sonntag
- Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS, Winterbergstrasse 28, 01277 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Elmar Moritzer
- Kunststofftechnik Paderborn, Universität Paderborn University, Warburger Straße 100, 33098 Paderborn, Germany.
| | - Andrè Hirsch
- Kunststofftechnik Paderborn, Universität Paderborn University, Warburger Straße 100, 33098 Paderborn, Germany.
| | - Udo Klotzbach
- Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS, Winterbergstrasse 28, 01277 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Andrés Fabián Lasagni
- Institute of Manufacturing Technology, Technische Universität Dresden, George-Baehr-Str.1, 01069 Dresden, Germany.
- Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS, Winterbergstrasse 28, 01277 Dresden, Germany.
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Chen YC, Yang H. Octopus-Inspired Assembly of Nanosucker Arrays for Dry/Wet Adhesion. ACS NANO 2017; 11:5332-5338. [PMID: 28448714 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.7b00809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The octopus is capable of adhering to slippery, rough, and irregular surfaces in the marine intertidal zone because of its periodic infundibulum-shaped suckers on the arms. Here, we present a scalable self-assembly technology for fabricating adhesion materials that mimic octopus sucker functionality. By utilizing spin-coated two-dimensional colloidal crystals as templates, non-close-packed nanosucker arrays are patterned on silicone substrates. The resulting nanosuckers can be deformed to exhibit great adhesive capacities on both microrough and flat surfaces in dry and wet environments. This indicates a probable biomimetic solution to the challenge of wound care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Chu Chen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Chung Hsing University , No. 145, Xingda Road, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
| | - Hongta Yang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Chung Hsing University , No. 145, Xingda Road, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
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37
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Microfluidics Engineering: Recent Trends, Valorization, and Applications. ARABIAN JOURNAL FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s13369-017-2662-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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38
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Son KJ, Gheibi P, Stybayeva G, Rahimian A, Revzin A. Detecting cell-secreted growth factors in microfluidic devices using bead-based biosensors. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2017; 3:17025. [PMID: 29963323 PMCID: PMC6023413 DOI: 10.1038/micronano.2017.25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic systems provide an interesting alternative to standard macroscale cell cultures due to the decrease in the number of cells and reagents as well as the improved physiology of cells confined to small volumes. However, the tools available for cell-secreted molecules inside microfluidic devices remain limited. In this paper, we describe an integrated microsystem composed of a microfluidic device and a fluorescent microbead-based assay for the detection of the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 secreted by primary hepatocytes. This microfluidic system is designed to separate a cell culture chamber from sensing chambers using a permeable hydrogel barrier. Cell-secreted HGF and TGF-β1 diffuse through the hydrogel barrier into adjacent sensing channels and are detected using fluorescent microbead-based sensors. The specificity of sensing microbeads is defined by the choice of antibodies; therefore, our microfluidic culture system and sensing microbeads may be applied to a variety of cells and cell-secreted factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung Jin Son
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Pantea Gheibi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Gulnaz Stybayeva
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA
| | - Ali Rahimian
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA
| | - Alexander Revzin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA
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39
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Yen DP, Ando Y, Shen K. A cost-effective micromilling platform for rapid prototyping of microdevices. TECHNOLOGY 2016; 4:234-239. [PMID: 28317005 PMCID: PMC5356927 DOI: 10.1142/s2339547816200041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Micromilling has great potential in producing microdevices for lab-on-a-chip and organ-on-a-chip applications, but has remained under-utilized due to the high machinery costs and limited accessibility. In this paper, we assessed the machining capabilities of a low-cost 3-D mill in polycarbonate material, which were showcased by the production of microfluidic devices. The study demonstrates that this particular mill is well suited for the fabrication of multi-scale microdevices with feature sizes from micrometers to centimeters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel P Yen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Yuta Ando
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Keyue Shen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
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40
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Haque A, Gheibi P, Gao Y, Foster E, Son KJ, You J, Stybayeva G, Patel D, Revzin A. Cell biology is different in small volumes: endogenous signals shape phenotype of primary hepatocytes cultured in microfluidic channels. Sci Rep 2016; 6:33980. [PMID: 27681582 PMCID: PMC5041105 DOI: 10.1038/srep33980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2016] [Accepted: 08/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The approaches for maintaining hepatocytes in vitro are aimed at recapitulating aspects of the native liver microenvironment through the use of co-cultures, surface coatings and 3D spheroids. This study highlights the effects of spatial confinement-a less studied component of the in vivo microenvironment. We demonstrate that hepatocytes cultured in low-volume microfluidic channels (microchambers) retain differentiated hepatic phenotype for 21 days whereas cells cultured in regular culture plates under identical conditions de-differentiate after 7 days. Careful consideration of nutrient delivery and oxygen tension suggested that these factors could not solely account for enhanced cell function in microchambers. Through a series of experiments involving microfluidic chambers of various heights and inhibition of key molecular pathways, we confirmed that phenotype of hepatocytes in small volumes was shaped by endogenous signals, both hepato-inductive growth factors (GFs) such as hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and hepato-disruptive GFs such as transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1. Hepatocytes are not generally thought of as significant producers of GFs–this role is typically assigned to nonparenchymal cells of the liver. Our study demonstrates that, in an appropriate microenvironment, hepatocytes produce hepato-inductive and pro-fibrogenic signals at the levels sufficient to shape their phenotype and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amranul Haque
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Pantea Gheibi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Yandong Gao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Elena Foster
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Kyung Jin Son
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Jungmok You
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, CA 95616, USA.,Department of Plant and Environmental New Resources, Kyung Hee University, Youngin-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
| | - Gulnaz Stybayeva
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Dipali Patel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Alexander Revzin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, CA 95616, USA
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41
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Moore TA, Young EWK. Single cell functional analysis of multiple myeloma cell populations correlates with diffusion profiles in static microfluidic coculture systems. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2016; 10:044105. [PMID: 27478529 PMCID: PMC4947036 DOI: 10.1063/1.4958982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 07/06/2016] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic cell culture systems are becoming increasingly useful for studying biology questions, particularly those involving small cell populations that are cultured within microscale geometries mimicking the complex cellular microenvironment. Depending on the geometry and spatial organization of these cell populations, however, paracrine signaling between cell types can depend critically on spatial concentration profiles of soluble factors generated by diffusive transport. In scenarios where single cell data are acquired to study cell population heterogeneities in functional response, uncertainty associated with concentration profiles can lead to interpretation bias. To address this issue and provide important evidence on how diffusion develops within typical microfluidic cell culture systems, a combination of experimental and computational approaches were applied to measure and predict concentration patterns within microfluidic geometries, and characterize the functional response of culture cells based on single-cell resolution transcription factor activation. Using a model coculture system consisting of multiple myeloma cells (MMCs) and neighboring bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs), we measured concentrations of three cytokines (IL-6, VEGF, and TNF-α) in conditioned media collected from separate culture compartments using a multiplex ELISA system. A 3D numerical model was developed to predict biomolecular diffusion and resulting concentration profiles within the tested microsystems and compared with experimental diffusion of 20 kDa FITC-Dextran. Finally, diffusion was further characterized by controlling exogenous IL-6 diffusion and the coculture spatial configuration of BMSCs to stimulate STAT3 nuclear translocation in MMCs. Results showed agreement between numerical and experimental results, provided evidence of a shallow concentration gradient across the center well of the microsystem that did not lead to a bias in results, and demonstrated that microfluidic systems can be tailored with specific geometries to avoid spatial bias when desired.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A Moore
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering and the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G8, Canada
| | - Edmond W K Young
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering and the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G8, Canada
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42
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Regier MC, Alarid ET, Beebe DJ. Progress towards understanding heterotypic interactions in multi-culture models of breast cancer. Integr Biol (Camb) 2016; 8:684-92. [PMID: 27097801 PMCID: PMC4993016 DOI: 10.1039/c6ib00001k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Microenvironments in primary tumors and metastases include multiple cell types whose dynamic and reciprocal interactions are central to progression of the disease. However, the literature involving breast cancer studied in vitro is dominated by cancer cells in mono-culture or co-cultured with one other cell type. For in vitro studies of breast cancer the inclusion of multiple cell types has led to models that are more representative of in vivo behaviors and functions as compared to more traditional monoculture. Here, we review foundational co-culture techniques and their adaptation to multi-culture (including three or more cell types). Additionally, while macroscale methods involving conditioned media, direct contact, and indirect interactions have been informative, we examined many advances that have been made more recently using microscale systems with increased control over cellular and structural complexity. Throughout this discussion we consider the benefits and limitations of current multi-culture methods and the significant results they have produced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary C Regier
- Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
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43
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Cheng JW, Chang TC, Bhattacharjee N, Folch A. An open-chamber flow-focusing device for focal stimulation of micropatterned cells. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2016; 10:024122. [PMID: 27158290 PMCID: PMC4833748 DOI: 10.1063/1.4946801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Accepted: 04/03/2016] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic devices can deliver soluble factors to cell and tissue culture microenvironments with precise spatiotemporal control. However, enclosed microfluidic environments often have drawbacks such as the need for continuous culture medium perfusion which limits the duration of experiments, incongruity between microculture and macroculture, difficulty in introducing cells and tissues, and high shear stress on cells. Here, we present an open-chamber microfluidic device that delivers hydrodynamically focused streams of soluble reagents to cells over long time periods (i.e., several hours). We demonstrate the advantage of the open chamber by using conventional cell culture techniques to induce the differentiation of myoblasts into myotubes, a process that occurs in 7-10 days and is difficult to achieve in closed chamber microfluidic devices. By controlling the flow rates and altering the device geometry, we produced sharp focal streams with widths ranging from 36 μm to 187 μm. The focal streams were reproducible (∼12% variation between units) and stable (∼20% increase in stream width over 10 h of operation). Furthermore, we integrated trenches for micropatterning myoblasts and microtraps for confining single primary myofibers into the device. We demonstrate with finite element method (FEM) simulations that shear stresses within the cell trench are well below values known to be deleterious to cells, while local concentrations are maintained at ∼22% of the input concentration. Finally, we demonstrated focused delivery of cytoplasmic and nuclear dyes to micropatterned myoblasts and myofibers. The open-chamber microfluidic flow-focusing concept combined with micropatterning may be generalized to other microfluidic applications that require stringent long-term cell culture conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan W Cheng
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington , Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Tim C Chang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington , Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Nirveek Bhattacharjee
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington , Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Albert Folch
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington , Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
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44
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Guild J, Haque A, Gheibi P, Gao Y, Son KJ, Foster E, Dumont S, Revzin A. Embryonic Stem Cells Cultured in Microfluidic Chambers Take Control of Their Fate by Producing Endogenous Signals Including LIF. Stem Cells 2016; 34:1501-12. [DOI: 10.1002/stem.2324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2015] [Accepted: 12/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Guild
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; University of California, Davis; Davis California USA
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology; University of California San Francisco; San Francisco California USA
| | - Amranul Haque
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; University of California, Davis; Davis California USA
| | - Pantea Gheibi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; University of California, Davis; Davis California USA
| | - Yandong Gao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; University of California, Davis; Davis California USA
| | - Kyung Jin Son
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; University of California, Davis; Davis California USA
| | - Elena Foster
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; University of California, Davis; Davis California USA
| | - Sophie Dumont
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology; University of California San Francisco; San Francisco California USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology; University of California; San Francisco, San Francisco California USA
| | - Alexander Revzin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; University of California, Davis; Davis California USA
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45
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Hümmer D, Kurth F, Naredi-Rainer N, Dittrich PS. Single cells in confined volumes: microchambers and microdroplets. LAB ON A CHIP 2016; 16:447-58. [PMID: 26758781 DOI: 10.1039/c5lc01314c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic devices capable of manipulating and guiding small fluid volumes open new methodical approaches in the fields of biology, pharmacy, and medicine. They have already proven their extraordinary value for cell analysis. The emergence of microfluidic platforms has paved the way to novel analytical strategies for the positioning, treatment and observation of living cells, for the creation of chemically defined liquid environments, and for tailoring biomechanical or physical conditions in small volumes. In this article, we particularly focus on two complementary approaches: (i) the isolation of cells in small chambers defined by microchannels and integrated valves and (ii) the encapsulation of cells in microdroplets. We review the advantages and limitations of both approaches and discuss their potential for single-cell analysis and related fields. Our intention is also to give a recommendation on which platform is most appropriate for a new question, i.e., a guideline to choose the most suitable platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Hümmer
- ETH Zurich - Department of Biosystems Science Engineering, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - F Kurth
- ETH Zurich - Department of Biosystems Science Engineering, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - N Naredi-Rainer
- ETH Zurich - Department of Biosystems Science Engineering, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - P S Dittrich
- ETH Zurich - Department of Biosystems Science Engineering, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
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46
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Digital microfluidic immunocytochemistry in single cells. Nat Commun 2015; 6:7513. [PMID: 26104298 PMCID: PMC4491823 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Accepted: 05/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
We report a new technique called Digital microfluidic Immunocytochemistry in Single Cells (DISC). DISC automates protocols for cell culture, stimulation and immunocytochemistry, enabling the interrogation of protein phosphorylation on pulsing with stimulus for as little as 3 s. DISC was used to probe the phosphorylation states of platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) and the downstream signalling protein, Akt, to evaluate concentration- and time-dependent effects of stimulation. The high time resolution of the technique allowed for surprising new observations-for example, a 10 s pulse stimulus of a low concentration of PDGF is sufficient to cause >30% of adherent fibroblasts to commit to Akt activation. With the ability to quantitatively probe signalling events with high time resolution at the single-cell level, we propose that DISC may be an important new technique for a wide range of applications, especially for screening signalling responses of a heterogeneous cell population.
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47
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Moreno EL, Hachi S, Hemmer K, Trietsch SJ, Baumuratov AS, Hankemeier T, Vulto P, Schwamborn JC, Fleming RMT. Differentiation of neuroepithelial stem cells into functional dopaminergic neurons in 3D microfluidic cell culture. LAB ON A CHIP 2015; 15:2419-2428. [PMID: 25902196 DOI: 10.1039/c5lc00180c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
A hallmark of Parkinson's disease is the progressive loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. We derived human neuroepithelial cells from induced pluripotent stem cells and successfully differentiated them into dopaminergic neurons within phase-guided, three-dimensional microfluidic cell culture bioreactors. After 30 days of differentiation within the microfluidic bioreactors, in situ morphological, immunocytochemical and calcium imaging confirmed the presence of dopaminergic neurons that were spontaneously electrophysiologically active, a characteristic feature of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons in vivo. Differentiation was as efficient as in macroscopic culture, with up to 19% of differentiated neurons immunoreactive for tyrosine hydroxylase, the penultimate enzyme in the synthesis of dopamine. This new microfluidic cell culture model integrates the latest innovations in developmental biology and microfluidic cell culture to generate a biologically realistic and economically efficient route to personalised drug discovery for Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edinson Lucumi Moreno
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, 7 avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, L-4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
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48
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Rigat-Brugarolas LG, Homs-Corbera A, Samitier J. Highly hydrophilic microfluidic device prototyping using a novel poly(dimethylsiloxane)-based polymeric mix. RSC Adv 2015. [DOI: 10.1039/c4ra14750b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
We present a novel methodology to create in a simple and fast way an interpenetrating polymer network biomaterial, mixing 2-hydroxyethil methacrylate and poly(dimethylsiloxane), for long-lasting highlyhydrophilic microfluidic device prototyping.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. G. Rigat-Brugarolas
- Nanobioengineering Group
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC)
- Barcelona
- Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería
| | - A. Homs-Corbera
- Nanobioengineering Group
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC)
- Barcelona
- Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería
| | - J. Samitier
- Nanobioengineering Group
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC)
- Barcelona
- Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería
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49
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Guckenberger DJ, Berthier E, Beebe DJ. High-density self-contained microfluidic KOALA kits for use by everyone. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 20:146-53. [PMID: 25424385 DOI: 10.1177/2211068214560609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Cell-based assays are essential tools used by research labs in a wide range of fields, including cell biology, toxicology, and natural product discovery labs. However, in some situations, the need for cell-based assays does not justify the costs of maintaining cell culture facilities and retaining skilled staff. The kit-on-a-lid assay (KOALA) technology enables accessible low-cost and prepackageable microfluidic platforms that can be operated with minimal infrastructure or training. Here, we demonstrate and characterize high-density KOALA methods for high-throughput applications, achieving an assay density comparable to that of a 384-well plate and usability by hand with no liquid-handling equipment. We show the potential for high-content screening and complex assays such as quantitative immunochemistry assays requiring multiple steps and reagents.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Guckenberger
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Erwin Berthier
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - David J Beebe
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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50
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Björnmalm M, Yan Y, Caruso F. Engineering and evaluating drug delivery particles in microfluidic devices. J Control Release 2014; 190:139-49. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2014.04.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2014] [Revised: 03/14/2014] [Accepted: 03/21/2014] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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