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Li W, Guo J, Hobson EC, Xue X, Li Q, Fu J, Deng CX, Guo Z. Metabolic-Glycoengineering-Enabled Molecularly Specific Acoustic Tweezing Cytometry for Targeted Mechanical Stimulation of Cell Surface Sialoglycans. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202401921. [PMID: 38498603 PMCID: PMC11073901 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202401921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
In this study, we developed a novel type of dibenzocyclooctyne (DBCO)-functionalized microbubbles (MBs) and validated their attachment to azide-labelled sialoglycans on human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) generated by metabolic glycoengineering (MGE). This enabled the application of mechanical forces to sialoglycans on hPSCs through molecularly specific acoustic tweezing cytometry (mATC), that is, displacing sialoglycan-anchored MBs using ultrasound (US). It was shown that subjected to the acoustic radiation forces of US pulses, sialoglycan-anchored MBs exhibited significantly larger displacements and faster, more complete recovery after each pulse than integrin-anchored MBs, indicating that sialoglycans are more stretchable and elastic than integrins on hPSCs in response to mechanical force. Furthermore, stimulating sialoglycans on hPSCs using mATC reduced stage-specific embryonic antigen-3 (SSEA-3) and GD3 expression but not OCT4 and SOX2 nuclear localization. Conversely, stimulating integrins decreased OCT4 nuclear localization but not SSEA-3 and GD3 expression, suggesting that mechanically stimulating sialoglycans and integrins initiated distinctive mechanoresponses during the early stages of hPSC differentiation. Taken together, these results demonstrated that MGE-enabled mATC uncovered not only different mechanical properties of sialoglycans on hPSCs and integrins but also their different mechanoregulatory impacts on hPSC differentiation, validating MGE-based mATC as a new, powerful tool for investigating the roles of glycans and other cell surface biomolecules in mechanotransduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiping Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jiatong Guo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Eric C. Hobson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Xufeng Xue
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Qingjiang Li
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA
| | - Jianping Fu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Cheri X. Deng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Zhongwu Guo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
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2
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Mukherjee J, Chaturvedi D, Mishra S, Jain R, Dandekar P. Microfluidic technology for cell biology-related applications: a review. J Biol Phys 2024; 50:1-27. [PMID: 38055086 PMCID: PMC10864244 DOI: 10.1007/s10867-023-09646-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Fluid flow at the microscale level exhibits a unique phenomenon that can be explored to fabricate microfluidic devices integrated with components that can perform various biological functions. In this manuscript, the importance of physics for microscale fluid dynamics using microfluidic devices has been reviewed. Microfluidic devices provide new opportunities with regard to spatial and temporal control over cell growth. Furthermore, the manuscript presents an overview of cellular stimuli observed by combining surfaces that mimic the complex biochemistries and different geometries of the extracellular matrix, with microfluidic channels regulating the transport of fluids, soluble factors, etc. We have also explained the concept of mechanotransduction, which defines the relation between mechanical force and biological response. Furthermore, the manipulation of cellular microenvironments by the use of microfluidic systems has been highlighted as a useful device for basic cell biology research activities. Finally, the article focuses on highly integrated microfluidic platforms that exhibit immense potential for biomedical and pharmaceutical research as robust and portable point-of-care diagnostic devices for the assessment of clinical samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joydeb Mukherjee
- Department of Biological Science and Biotechnology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, 400019, India
| | - Deepa Chaturvedi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, 400019, India
| | - Shlok Mishra
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, 400019, India
| | - Ratnesh Jain
- Department of Biological Science and Biotechnology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, 400019, India
| | - Prajakta Dandekar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, 400019, India.
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3
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Imashiro C, Morikura T, Hayama M, Ezura A, Komotori J, Miyata S, Sakaguchi K, Shimizu T. Metallic Vessel with Mesh Culture Surface Fabricated Using Three-dimensional Printing Engineers Tissue Culture Environment. BIOTECHNOL BIOPROC E 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s12257-022-0227-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
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4
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Sun W, Gao X, Lei H, Wang W, Cao Y. Biophysical Approaches for Applying and Measuring Biological Forces. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2105254. [PMID: 34923777 PMCID: PMC8844594 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202105254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decades, increasing evidence has indicated that mechanical loads can regulate the morphogenesis, proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of living cells. Investigations of how cells sense mechanical stimuli or the mechanotransduction mechanism is an active field of biomaterials and biophysics. Gaining a further understanding of mechanical regulation and depicting the mechanotransduction network inside cells require advanced experimental techniques and new theories. In this review, the fundamental principles of various experimental approaches that have been developed to characterize various types and magnitudes of forces experienced at the cellular and subcellular levels are summarized. The broad applications of these techniques are introduced with an emphasis on the difficulties in implementing these techniques in special biological systems. The advantages and disadvantages of each technique are discussed, which can guide readers to choose the most suitable technique for their questions. A perspective on future directions in this field is also provided. It is anticipated that technical advancement can be a driving force for the development of mechanobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxu Sun
- School of SciencesNantong UniversityNantong226019P. R. China
| | - Xiang Gao
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and IntegrationNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructureand Department of PhysicsCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced MicrostructuresNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- Institute of Brain ScienceNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
| | - Hai Lei
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and IntegrationNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructureand Department of PhysicsCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced MicrostructuresNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- Institute of Brain ScienceNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation CenterNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
| | - Wei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and IntegrationNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructureand Department of PhysicsCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced MicrostructuresNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- Institute of Brain ScienceNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
| | - Yi Cao
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and IntegrationNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructureand Department of PhysicsCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced MicrostructuresNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- Institute of Brain ScienceNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- MOE Key Laboratory of High Performance Polymer Materials and TechnologyDepartment of Polymer Science & EngineeringCollege of Chemistry & Chemical EngineeringNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
- Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation CenterNanjing UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
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5
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Spontaneous formation and spatial self-organization of mechanically induced mesenchymal-like cells within geometrically confined cancer cell monolayers. Biomaterials 2021; 281:121337. [PMID: 34979418 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
There is spatiotemporal heterogeneity in cell phenotypes and mechanical properties in tumor tissues, which is associated with cancer invasion and metastasis. It is well-known that exogenous growth factors like transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, can induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-based phenotypic transformation and the formation of EMT patterning on geometrically confined monolayers with mechanics heterogeneity. In the absence of exogenous TGF-β stimulation, however, whether geometric confinement-caused mechanics heterogeneity of cancer cell monolayers alone can trigger the EMT-based phenotypic heterogeneity still remains mysterious. Here, we develop a micropattern-based cell monolayer model to investigate the regulation of mechanics heterogeneity on the cell phenotypic switch. We reveal that mechanics heterogeneity itself is enough to spontaneously induce the emergence of mesenchymal-like phenotype and asymmetrical activation of TGF-β-SMAD signaling. Spatiotemporal dynamics of patterned cell monolayers with mesenchymal-like phenotypes is essentially regulated by tissue-scale cell behaviors like proliferation, migration as well as heterogeneous cytoskeletal contraction. The inhibition of cell contraction abrogates the asymmetrical TGF-β-SMAD signaling activation level and the emergence of mesenchymal-like phenotype. Our work not only sheds light on the key regulation of mechanics heterogeneity caused by spatially geometric confinement on regional mesenchymal-like phenotype of cancer cell monolayers, but highlights the key role of biophysical/mechanical cues in triggering phenotypic switch.
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6
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Kolb P, Schundner A, Frick M, Gottschalk KE. In Vitro Measurements of Cellular Forces and their Importance in the Lung-From the Sub- to the Multicellular Scale. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:691. [PMID: 34357063 PMCID: PMC8307149 DOI: 10.3390/life11070691] [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: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Throughout life, the body is subjected to various mechanical forces on the organ, tissue, and cellular level. Mechanical stimuli are essential for organ development and function. One organ whose function depends on the tightly connected interplay between mechanical cell properties, biochemical signaling, and external forces is the lung. However, altered mechanical properties or excessive mechanical forces can also drive the onset and progression of severe pulmonary diseases. Characterizing the mechanical properties and forces that affect cell and tissue function is therefore necessary for understanding physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms. In recent years, multiple methods have been developed for cellular force measurements at multiple length scales, from subcellular forces to measuring the collective behavior of heterogeneous cellular networks. In this short review, we give a brief overview of the mechanical forces at play on the cellular level in the lung. We then focus on the technological aspects of measuring cellular forces at many length scales. We describe tools with a subcellular resolution and elaborate measurement techniques for collective multicellular units. Many of the technologies described are by no means restricted to lung research and have already been applied successfully to cells from various other tissues. However, integrating the knowledge gained from these multi-scale measurements in a unifying framework is still a major future challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Kolb
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Ulm University, 89069 Ulm, Germany;
| | - Annika Schundner
- Institute of General Physiology, Ulm University, 89069 Ulm, Germany;
| | - Manfred Frick
- Institute of General Physiology, Ulm University, 89069 Ulm, Germany;
| | - Kay-E. Gottschalk
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Ulm University, 89069 Ulm, Germany;
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7
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Yang L, Pijuan-Galito S, Rho HS, Vasilevich AS, Eren AD, Ge L, Habibović P, Alexander MR, de Boer J, Carlier A, van Rijn P, Zhou Q. High-Throughput Methods in the Discovery and Study of Biomaterials and Materiobiology. Chem Rev 2021; 121:4561-4677. [PMID: 33705116 PMCID: PMC8154331 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c00752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The complex interaction of cells with biomaterials (i.e., materiobiology) plays an increasingly pivotal role in the development of novel implants, biomedical devices, and tissue engineering scaffolds to treat diseases, aid in the restoration of bodily functions, construct healthy tissues, or regenerate diseased ones. However, the conventional approaches are incapable of screening the huge amount of potential material parameter combinations to identify the optimal cell responses and involve a combination of serendipity and many series of trial-and-error experiments. For advanced tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, highly efficient and complex bioanalysis platforms are expected to explore the complex interaction of cells with biomaterials using combinatorial approaches that offer desired complex microenvironments during healing, development, and homeostasis. In this review, we first introduce materiobiology and its high-throughput screening (HTS). Then we present an in-depth of the recent progress of 2D/3D HTS platforms (i.e., gradient and microarray) in the principle, preparation, screening for materiobiology, and combination with other advanced technologies. The Compendium for Biomaterial Transcriptomics and high content imaging, computational simulations, and their translation toward commercial and clinical uses are highlighted. In the final section, current challenges and future perspectives are discussed. High-throughput experimentation within the field of materiobiology enables the elucidation of the relationships between biomaterial properties and biological behavior and thereby serves as a potential tool for accelerating the development of high-performance biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangliang Yang
- University
of Groningen, W. J. Kolff Institute for Biomedical Engineering and
Materials Science, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Medical Center Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sara Pijuan-Galito
- School
of Pharmacy, Biodiscovery Institute, University
of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
| | - Hoon Suk Rho
- Department
of Instructive Biomaterials Engineering, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired
Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Aliaksei S. Vasilevich
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University
of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Aysegul Dede Eren
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University
of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Lu Ge
- University
of Groningen, W. J. Kolff Institute for Biomedical Engineering and
Materials Science, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Medical Center Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Pamela Habibović
- Department
of Instructive Biomaterials Engineering, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired
Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Morgan R. Alexander
- School
of Pharmacy, Boots Science Building, University
of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
| | - Jan de Boer
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University
of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Aurélie Carlier
- Department
of Cell Biology-Inspired Tissue Engineering, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired
Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Patrick van Rijn
- University
of Groningen, W. J. Kolff Institute for Biomedical Engineering and
Materials Science, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Medical Center Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Qihui Zhou
- Institute
for Translational Medicine, Department of Stomatology, The Affiliated
Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao
University, Qingdao 266003, China
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8
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Fu J, Warmflash A, Lutolf MP. Stem-cell-based embryo models for fundamental research and translation. NATURE MATERIALS 2021; 20:132-144. [PMID: 33199861 PMCID: PMC7855549 DOI: 10.1038/s41563-020-00829-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Despite its importance, understanding the early phases of human development has been limited by availability of human samples. The recent emergence of stem-cell-derived embryo models, a new field aiming to use stem cells to construct in vitro models to recapitulate snapshots of the development of the mammalian conceptus, opens up exciting opportunities to promote fundamental understanding of human development and advance reproductive and regenerative medicine. This Review provides a summary of the current knowledge of early mammalian development, using mouse and human conceptuses as models, and emphasizes their similarities and critical differences. We then highlight existing embryo models that mimic different aspects of mouse and human development. We further discuss bioengineering tools used for controlling multicellular interactions and self-organization critical for the development of these models. We conclude with a discussion of the important next steps and exciting future opportunities of stem-cell-derived embryo models for fundamental discovery and translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianping Fu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Aryeh Warmflash
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Matthias P Lutolf
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences and School of Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, School of Basic Science, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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9
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Nian K, Harding IC, Herman IM, Ebong EE. Blood-Brain Barrier Damage in Ischemic Stroke and Its Regulation by Endothelial Mechanotransduction. Front Physiol 2020; 11:605398. [PMID: 33424628 PMCID: PMC7793645 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.605398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Ischemic stroke, a major cause of mortality in the United States, often contributes to disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The BBB along with its supportive cells, collectively referred to as the “neurovascular unit,” is the brain’s multicellular microvasculature that bi-directionally regulates the transport of blood, ions, oxygen, and cells from the circulation into the brain. It is thus vital for the maintenance of central nervous system homeostasis. BBB disruption, which is associated with the altered expression of tight junction proteins and BBB transporters, is believed to exacerbate brain injury caused by ischemic stroke and limits the therapeutic potential of current clinical therapies, such as recombinant tissue plasminogen activator. Accumulating evidence suggests that endothelial mechanobiology, the conversion of mechanical forces into biochemical signals, helps regulate function of the peripheral vasculature and may similarly maintain BBB integrity. For example, the endothelial glycocalyx (GCX), a glycoprotein-proteoglycan layer extending into the lumen of bloods vessel, is abundantly expressed on endothelial cells of the BBB and has been shown to regulate BBB permeability. In this review, we will focus on our understanding of the mechanisms underlying BBB damage after ischemic stroke, highlighting current and potential future novel pharmacological strategies for BBB protection and recovery. Finally, we will address the current knowledge of endothelial mechanotransduction in BBB maintenance, specifically focusing on a potential role of the endothelial GCX.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keqing Nian
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Ian C Harding
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Ira M Herman
- Department of Development, Molecular, and Chemical Biology, Tufts Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Boston, MA, United States.,Center for Innovations in Wound Healing Research, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Eno E Ebong
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
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10
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Zheng Y, Shao Y, Fu J. A microfluidics-based stem cell model of early post-implantation human development. Nat Protoc 2020; 16:309-326. [PMID: 33311712 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-020-00417-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Early post-implantation human embryonic development has been challenging to study due to both technical limitations and ethical restrictions. Proper modeling of the process is important for infertility and toxicology research. Here we provide details of the design and implementation of a microfluidic device that can be used to model human embryo development. The microfluidic human embryo model is established from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), and the resulting structures exhibit molecular and cellular features resembling the progressive development of the early post-implantation human embryo. The compartmentalized configuration of the microfluidic device allows the formation of spherical hPSC clusters in prescribed locations in the device, enabling the two opposite regions of each hPSC cluster to be exposed to two different exogenous chemical environments. Under such asymmetrical chemical conditions, several early post-implantation human embryo developmental landmarks, including lumenogenesis of the epiblast and the resultant pro-amniotic cavity, formation of a bipolar embryonic sac, and specification of primordial germ cells and gastrulating cells (or mesendoderm cells), can be robustly recapitulated using the microfluidic device. The microfluidic human embryo model is compatible with high-throughput studies, live imaging, immunofluorescence staining, fluorescent in situ hybridization, and single-cell sequencing. This protocol takes ~5 d to complete, including microfluidic device fabrication (2 d), cell seeding (1 d), and progressive development of the microfluidic model until gastrulation-like events occur (1-2 d).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zheng
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yue Shao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Department of Engineering Mechanics, School of Aerospace Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jianping Fu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. .,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. .,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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11
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Lyu J, Chen L, Zhang J, Kang X, Wang Y, Wu W, Tang H, Wu J, He Z, Tang K. A microfluidics-derived growth factor gradient in a scaffold regulates stem cell activities for tendon-to-bone interface healing. Biomater Sci 2020; 8:3649-3663. [PMID: 32458839 DOI: 10.1039/d0bm00229a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Treatment of tendon-to-bone interface injury has long been challenging in sports medicine. The major obstacle lies with the complicated three-layer structure of the tissue that consists of a bone region with osteocytes, a tendon region with tenocytes and a transitional region with chondrocytes. Conventional tissue engineering approaches using simply biomaterial scaffolds, stem cells and combinations of them had limited abilities to reconstruct the gradient structure with normal biomechanical properties. We herein aim to construct a three-layer structure with bone marrow-derived stem cells and tendon stem cells cultured in a decellularized tendon scaffold, through application of a gradient of biological cues in the longitudinal direction of the scaffold that guides the stem cells to differentiate and remodel the extracellular matrix in response to different medium concentrations in different regions. A microfluidic chip, on which a tree-like flow pattern was implemented, was adopted to create the concentration gradient in a dichotomous manner. We screened for an optimized seeding ratio between the two stem cell types before incubation of the scaffold in the medium concentration gradient and surgical implantation. Histology and immunohistochemistry assessments, both qualitatively and semi-quantitatively, showed that the microfluidic system provided desired guidance to the seeded stem cells that the healing at 8-week post-implantation presented a similar structure to that of a normal tendon-to-bone interface, which was outstanding compared to treatments without gradient guidance, stem cells or scaffolds where chaotic and fibrotic structures were obtained. This strategy offers a potentially translational tissue engineering approach for better outcomes in tendon-to-bone healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingtong Lyu
- Center of Sports Medicine of Orthopaedic Department, Southwest hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
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12
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Pradhan S, Banda OA, Farino CJ, Sperduto JL, Keller KA, Taitano R, Slater JH. Biofabrication Strategies and Engineered In Vitro Systems for Vascular Mechanobiology. Adv Healthc Mater 2020; 9:e1901255. [PMID: 32100473 PMCID: PMC8579513 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201901255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Revised: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The vascular system is integral for maintaining organ-specific functions and homeostasis. Dysregulation in vascular architecture and function can lead to various chronic or acute disorders. Investigation of the role of the vascular system in health and disease has been accelerated through the development of tissue-engineered constructs and microphysiological on-chip platforms. These in vitro systems permit studies of biochemical regulation of vascular networks and parenchymal tissue and provide mechanistic insights into the biophysical and hemodynamic forces acting in organ-specific niches. Detailed understanding of these forces and the mechanotransductory pathways involved is necessary to develop preventative and therapeutic strategies targeting the vascular system. This review describes vascular structure and function, the role of hemodynamic forces in maintaining vascular homeostasis, and measurement approaches for cell and tissue level mechanical properties influencing vascular phenomena. State-of-the-art techniques for fabricating in vitro microvascular systems, with varying degrees of biological and engineering complexity, are summarized. Finally, the role of vascular mechanobiology in organ-specific niches and pathophysiological states, and efforts to recapitulate these events using in vitro microphysiological systems, are explored. It is hoped that this review will help readers appreciate the important, but understudied, role of vascular-parenchymal mechanotransduction in health and disease toward developing mechanotherapeutics for treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shantanu Pradhan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, 161 Colburn Lab, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - Omar A. Banda
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, 161 Colburn Lab, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Cindy J. Farino
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, 161 Colburn Lab, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - John L. Sperduto
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, 161 Colburn Lab, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Keely A. Keller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, 161 Colburn Lab, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Ryan Taitano
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, 161 Colburn Lab, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - John H. Slater
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, 161 Colburn Lab, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, 201 DuPont Hall, Newark, DE 19716, USA
- Delaware Biotechnology Institute, 15 Innovation Way, Newark, DE 19711, USA
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13
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Zhu P, Hawkins J, Linthicum WH, Wang M, Li N, Zhou N, Wen Q, Timme-Laragy A, Song X, Sun Y. Heavy Metal Exposure Leads to Rapid Changes in Cellular Biophysical Properties. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2020; 6:1965-1976. [PMID: 33455329 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.9b01640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Biophysical properties of cells, such as cell mechanics, cell shape, and cell migration, are emerging hallmarks for characterizing various cell functions. Conversely, disruptions to these biophysical properties may be used as reliable indicators of disruptions to cell homeostasis, such as in the case of chemical-induced toxicity. In this study, we demonstrate that treatment of lead(II) nitrate and cadmium nitrate leads to dosage-dependent changes in a collection of biophysical properties, including cellular traction forces, focal adhesions, mechanical stiffness, cell shape, migration speed, permeability, and wound-healing efficacy in mammalian cells. As those changes appear within a few hours after the treatment with a trace amount of lead/cadmium, our results highlight the promise of using biophysical properties to screen environmental chemicals to identify potential toxicants and establish dose response curves. Our systematic and quantitative characterization of the rapid changes in cytoskeletal structure and cell functions upon heavy metal treatment may inspire new research on the mechanisms of toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiran Zhu
- Key Laboratory of 3D Micro/Nano Fabrication and Characterization of Zhejiang Province, School of Engineering, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China.,Institute of Advanced Technology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China
| | | | - Will Hamilton Linthicum
- Department of Physics, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts 01609, United States
| | - Menglin Wang
- Key Laboratory of 3D Micro/Nano Fabrication and Characterization of Zhejiang Province, School of Engineering, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China.,Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, Anhui Province, China
| | | | - Nanjia Zhou
- Key Laboratory of 3D Micro/Nano Fabrication and Characterization of Zhejiang Province, School of Engineering, Westlake University, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China.,Institute of Advanced Technology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Qi Wen
- Department of Physics, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts 01609, United States
| | | | - Xiaofei Song
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
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14
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Musafargani S, Mishra S, Gulyás M, Mahalakshmi P, Archunan G, Padmanabhan P, Gulyás B. Blood brain barrier: A tissue engineered microfluidic chip. J Neurosci Methods 2020; 331:108525. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2019.108525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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15
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Paddillaya N, Mishra A, Kondaiah P, Pullarkat P, Menon GI, Gundiah N. Biophysics of Cell-Substrate Interactions Under Shear. Front Cell Dev Biol 2019; 7:251. [PMID: 31781558 PMCID: PMC6857480 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2019.00251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Cells adhere to substrates through mechanosensitive focal adhesion complexes. Measurements that probe how cells detach from substrates when they experience an applied force connect molecular-scale aspects of cell adhesion with the biophysical properties of adherent cells. Such forces can be applied through shear devices that flow fluid in a controlled manner across cells. The signaling pathways associated with focal adhesions, in particular those that involve integrins and receptor tyrosine kinases, are complex, receiving mechano-chemical feedback from the sensing of substrate stiffness as well as of external forces. This article reviews the signaling processes involved in mechanosensing and mechanotransduction during cell-substrate interactions, describing the role such signaling plays in cancer metastasis. We examine some recent progress in quantifying the strength of these interactions, describing a novel fluid shear device that allows for the visualization of the cell and its sub-cellular structures under a shear flow. We also summarize related results from a biophysical model for cellular de-adhesion induced by applied forces. Quantifying cell-substrate adhesions under shear should aid in the development of mechano-diagnostic techniques for diseases in which cell-adhesion is mis-regulated, such as cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Paddillaya
- Centre for Biosystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Ashish Mishra
- Soft Condensed Matter Group, Raman Research Institute, Bangalore, India
| | - Paturu Kondaiah
- Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Pramod Pullarkat
- Soft Condensed Matter Group, Raman Research Institute, Bangalore, India
| | - Gautam I Menon
- The Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai, India.,Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, India.,Department of Physics, Ashoka University, Sonepat, India
| | - Namrata Gundiah
- Centre for Biosystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
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16
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Bajpai A, Tong J, Qian W, Peng Y, Chen W. The Interplay Between Cell-Cell and Cell-Matrix Forces Regulates Cell Migration Dynamics. Biophys J 2019; 117:1795-1804. [PMID: 31706566 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2019.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cells in vivo encounter and exert forces as they interact with the extracellular matrix (ECM) and neighboring cells during migration. These mechanical forces play crucial roles in regulating cell migratory behaviors. Although a variety of studies have focused on describing single-cell or the collective cell migration behaviors, a fully mechanistic understanding of how the cell-cell (intercellular) and cell-ECM (extracellular) traction forces individually and cooperatively regulate single-cell migration and coordinate multicellular movement in a cellular monolayer is still lacking. Here, we developed an integrated experimental and analytical system to examine both the intercellular and extracellular traction forces acting on individual cells within an endothelial cell colony as well as their roles in guiding cell migratory behaviors (i.e., cell translation and rotation). Combined with force, multipole, and moment analysis, our results revealed that traction force dominates in regulating cell active translation, whereas intercellular force actively modulates cell rotation. Our findings advance the understanding of the intricacies of cell-cell and cell-ECM forces in regulating cellular migratory behaviors that occur during the monolayer development and may yield deeper insights into the single-cell dynamic behaviors during tissue development, embryogenesis, and wound healing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jie Tong
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
| | - Weiyi Qian
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
| | - Yansong Peng
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
| | - Weiqiang Chen
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; Department of Biomedical Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, New York.
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17
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Zhu P, Tseng NH, Xie T, Li N, Fitts-Sprague I, Peyton SR, Sun Y. Biomechanical Microenvironment Regulates Fusogenicity of Breast Cancer Cells. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2019; 5:3817-3827. [PMID: 33438422 PMCID: PMC9800072 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.8b00861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Fusion of cancer cells is thought to contribute to tumor development and drug resistance. The low frequency of cell fusion events and the instability of fused cells have hindered our ability to understand the molecular mechanisms that govern cell fusion. We have demonstrated that several breast cancer cell lines can fuse into multinucleated giant cells in vitro, and the initiation and longevity of fused cells can be regulated solely by biophysical factors. Dynamically tuning the adhesive area of the patterned substrates, reducing cytoskeletal tensions pharmacologically, altering matrix stiffness, and modulating pattern curvature all supported the spontaneous fusion and stability of these multinucleated giant cells. These observations highlight that the biomechanical microenvironment of cancer cells, including the matrix rigidity and interfacial curvature, can directly modulate their fusogenicity, an unexplored mechanism through which biophysical cues regulate tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiran Zhu
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA
| | - Ning-Hsuan Tseng
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA
| | - Tianfa Xie
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA
| | - Ningwei Li
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA
| | - Isaac Fitts-Sprague
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA
| | - Shelly R. Peyton
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA.,Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA.,Institue for Applied Life Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA
| | - Yubing Sun
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA.,Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA.,Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA.,Institue for Applied Life Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA.,Corresponding Author: Correspondence should be addressed to Y. Sun ()
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18
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Huang J, Lin F, Xiong C. Mechanical characterization of single cells based on microfluidic techniques. Trends Analyt Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2019.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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19
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Qian W, Chen W. Probing Single-Cell Mechanical Allostasis Using Ultrasound Tweezers. Cell Mol Bioeng 2019; 12:415-427. [PMID: 31719924 DOI: 10.1007/s12195-019-00578-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction In response to external stress, cells alter their morphology, metabolic activity, and functions to mechanically adapt to the dynamic, local environment through cell allostasis. To explore mechanotransduction in cellular allostasis, we applied an integrated micromechanical system that combines an 'ultrasound tweezers'-based mechanical stressor and a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based molecular force biosensor, termed "actinin-sstFRET," to monitor in situ single-cell allostasis in response to transient stimulation in real time. Methods The ultrasound tweezers utilize 1 Hz, 10-s transient ultrasound pulses to acoustically excite a lipid-encapsulated microbubble, which is bound to the cell membrane, and apply a pico- to nano-Newton range of forces to cells through an RGD-integrin linkage. The actinin-sstFRET molecular sensor, which engages the actin stress fibers in live cells, is used to map real-time actomyosin force dynamics over time. Then, the mechanosensitive behaviors were examined by profiling the dynamics in Ca2+ influx, actomyosin cytoskeleton (CSK) activity, and GTPase RhoA signaling to define a single-cell mechanical allostasis. Results By subjecting a 1 Hz, 10-s physical stress, single vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were observed to remodeled themselves in a biphasic mechanical allostatic manner within 30 min that caused them to adjust their contractility and actomyosin activities. The cellular machinery that underscores the vital role of CSK equilibrium in cellular mechanical allostasis, includes Ca2+ influx, remodeling of actomyosin CSK and contraction, and GTPase RhoA signaling. Mechanical allostasis was observed to be compromised in VSMCs from patients with type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which could potentiate an allostatic maladaptation. Conclusions By integrating tools that simultaneously permit localized mechanical perturbation and map actomyosin forces, we revealed distinct cellular mechanical allostasis profiles in our micromechanical system. Our findings of cell mechanical allostasis and maladaptation provide the potential for mechanophenotyping cells to reveal their pathogenic contexts and their biophysical mediators that underlie multi-etiological diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, or aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiyi Qian
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, NY 11201 USA
| | - Weiqiang Chen
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, NY 11201 USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, NY 11201 USA
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20
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Youn S, Choi JW, Lee JS, Kim J, Yang IH, Chang JH, Kim HC, Hwang JY. Acoustic Trapping Technique for Studying Calcium Response of a Suspended Breast Cancer Cell: Determination of Its Invasion Potentials. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2019; 66:737-746. [PMID: 30676954 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2019.2894662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
A noncontact single-beam acoustic trapping technique has proven to be a promising tool for cell manipulation and characterization that provide essential knowledge for a variety of biomedical applications. Here, we investigated cell characteristics as to whether the calcium responses of suspended breast cancer cells to different acoustic trapping forces are related to their invasiveness. For this, we combined a single-beam acoustic trapping system with a 30-MHz press-focused lithium niobate ultrasound transducer and an epifluorescence microscope. Using the system, intracellular calcium changes of suspended MDA-MB-231 (highly invasive) and MCF-7 (weakly invasive) cells were monitored while trapping the cells at different acoustic pressures. The results showed that a single suspended breast cancer cell isolated by the acoustic microbeam behaved differently on the calcium elevation in response to changes in acoustic trapping force, depending on its invasiveness. In particular, the MDA-MB-231 cells exhibited higher calcium elevation than MCF-7 cells when each cell was trapped at low acoustic pressure. Based on these results, we believe that the single-beam acoustic trapping technique has high potential as an alternative tool for determining the degree of invasiveness of suspended breast cancer cells.
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21
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Hanke J, Ranke C, Perego E, Köster S. Human blood platelets contract in perpendicular direction to shear flow. SOFT MATTER 2019; 15:2009-2019. [PMID: 30724316 DOI: 10.1039/c8sm02136h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
In their physiological environment, blood platelets are permanently exposed to shear forces caused by blood flow. Within this surrounding, they generate contractile forces that eventually lead to a compaction of the blood clot. Here, we present a microfluidic chamber that combines hydrogel-based traction force microscopy with a controlled shear environment, and investigate the force fields platelets generate when exposed to shear flow in a spatio-temporally resolved manner. We find that for shear rates between 14 s-1 to 33 s-1, the general contraction behavior in terms of force distribution and magnitude does not differ from no-flow conditions. The main direction of contraction, however, does respond to the externally applied stress. At high shear stress, we observe an angle of about 90° between flow direction and main contraction axis. We explain this observation by the distribution of the stress acting on the adherent cell: the observed angle provides the most stable situation for the cell experiencing the shear flow, as supported by a finite element method simulation of the stresses along the platelet boundary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Hanke
- Institute for X-Ray Physics, University of Goettingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
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22
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Iosif C, Biondi A. Braided stents and their impact in intracranial aneurysm treatment for distal locations: from flow diverters to low profile stents. Expert Rev Med Devices 2019; 16:237-251. [DOI: 10.1080/17434440.2019.1575725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christina Iosif
- Department of Neuroradiology and Endovascular Treatment, Jean-Minjoz University Hospital, Besancon, France
- Department of Interventional Neuroradiology, Erasmus University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
- Associate Professor in Radiology, European University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Alessandra Biondi
- Department of Neuroradiology and Endovascular Treatment, Jean-Minjoz University Hospital, Besancon, France
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23
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Basoli F, Giannitelli SM, Gori M, Mozetic P, Bonfanti A, Trombetta M, Rainer A. Biomechanical Characterization at the Cell Scale: Present and Prospects. Front Physiol 2018; 9:1449. [PMID: 30498449 PMCID: PMC6249385 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapidly growing field of mechanobiology demands for robust and reproducible characterization of cell mechanical properties. Recent achievements in understanding the mechanical regulation of cell fate largely rely on technological platforms capable of probing the mechanical response of living cells and their physico–chemical interaction with the microenvironment. Besides the established family of atomic force microscopy (AFM) based methods, other approaches include optical, magnetic, and acoustic tweezers, as well as sensing substrates that take advantage of biomaterials chemistry and microfabrication techniques. In this review, we introduce the available methods with an emphasis on the most recent advances, and we discuss the challenges associated with their implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Basoli
- Department of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Manuele Gori
- Department of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Pamela Mozetic
- Center for Translational Medicine, International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, Brno, Czechia
| | - Alessandra Bonfanti
- Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Marcella Trombetta
- Department of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Rainer
- Department of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy.,Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
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24
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25
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Abstract
![]()
Hydrodynamic phenomena
are ubiquitous in living organisms and can
be used to manipulate cells or emulate physiological microenvironments
experienced in vivo. Hydrodynamic effects influence multiple cellular
properties and processes, including cell morphology, intracellular
processes, cell–cell signaling cascades and reaction kinetics,
and play an important role at the single-cell, multicellular, and
organ level. Selected hydrodynamic effects can also be leveraged to
control mechanical stresses, analyte transport, as well as local temperature
within cellular microenvironments. With a better understanding of
fluid mechanics at the micrometer-length scale and the advent of microfluidic
technologies, a new generation of experimental tools that provide
control over cellular microenvironments and emulate physiological
conditions with exquisite accuracy is now emerging. Accordingly, we
believe that it is timely to assess the concepts underlying hydrodynamic
control of cellular microenvironments and their applications and provide
some perspective on the future of such tools in in vitro cell-culture
models. Generally, we describe the interplay between living cells,
hydrodynamic stressors, and fluid flow-induced effects imposed on
the cells. This interplay results in a broad range of chemical, biological,
and physical phenomena in and around cells. More specifically, we
describe and formulate the underlying physics of hydrodynamic phenomena
affecting both adhered and suspended cells. Moreover, we provide an
overview of representative studies that leverage hydrodynamic effects
in the context of single-cell studies within microfluidic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Huber
- IBM Research-Zürich , Säumerstrasse 4, 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland.,Institute of Chemical and Bioengineering, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zürich , Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Ali Oskooei
- IBM Research-Zürich , Säumerstrasse 4, 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland
| | - Xavier Casadevall I Solvas
- Institute of Chemical and Bioengineering, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zürich , Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Andrew deMello
- Institute of Chemical and Bioengineering, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zürich , Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Govind V Kaigala
- IBM Research-Zürich , Säumerstrasse 4, 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland
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Geraili A, Jafari P, Hassani MS, Araghi BH, Mohammadi MH, Ghafari AM, Tamrin SH, Modarres HP, Kolahchi AR, Ahadian S, Sanati-Nezhad A. Controlling Differentiation of Stem Cells for Developing Personalized Organ-on-Chip Platforms. Adv Healthc Mater 2018; 7. [PMID: 28910516 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201700426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2017] [Revised: 06/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Organ-on-chip (OOC) platforms have attracted attentions of pharmaceutical companies as powerful tools for screening of existing drugs and development of new drug candidates. OOCs have primarily used human cell lines or primary cells to develop biomimetic tissue models. However, the ability of human stem cells in unlimited self-renewal and differentiation into multiple lineages has made them attractive for OOCs. The microfluidic technology has enabled precise control of stem cell differentiation using soluble factors, biophysical cues, and electromagnetic signals. This study discusses different tissue- and organ-on-chip platforms (i.e., skin, brain, blood-brain barrier, bone marrow, heart, liver, lung, tumor, and vascular), with an emphasis on the critical role of stem cells in the synthesis of complex tissues. This study further recaps the design, fabrication, high-throughput performance, and improved functionality of stem-cell-based OOCs, technical challenges, obstacles against implementing their potential applications, and future perspectives related to different experimental platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armin Geraili
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering; Sharif University of Technology; Azadi, Tehran 14588-89694 Iran
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering; Western University; London N6A 5B9 ON Canada
| | - Parya Jafari
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering; Western University; London N6A 5B9 ON Canada
- Department of Electrical Engineering; Sharif University of Technology; Azadi, Tehran 14588-89694 Iran
| | - Mohsen Sheikh Hassani
- Department of Systems and Computer Engineering; Carleton University; 1125 Colonel By Drive Ottawa K1S 5B6 ON Canada
| | - Behnaz Heidary Araghi
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering; Sharif University of Technology; Azadi, Tehran 14588-89694 Iran
| | - Mohammad Hossein Mohammadi
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering; University of Toronto; Toronto ON M5S 3G9 Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry; University of Toronto; Toronto Ontario M5S 3E5 Canada
| | - Amir Mohammad Ghafari
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology; Cell Science Research Center; Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology; Tehran 16635-148 Iran
| | - Sara Hasanpour Tamrin
- BioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory (BioM); Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering; University of Calgary; 2500 University Drive N.W. Calgary T2N 1N4 AB Canada
| | - Hassan Pezeshgi Modarres
- BioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory (BioM); Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering; University of Calgary; 2500 University Drive N.W. Calgary T2N 1N4 AB Canada
| | - Ahmad Rezaei Kolahchi
- BioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory (BioM); Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering; University of Calgary; 2500 University Drive N.W. Calgary T2N 1N4 AB Canada
| | - Samad Ahadian
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering; University of Toronto; Toronto ON M5S 3G9 Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry; University of Toronto; Toronto Ontario M5S 3E5 Canada
| | - Amir Sanati-Nezhad
- BioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory (BioM); Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering; University of Calgary; 2500 University Drive N.W. Calgary T2N 1N4 AB Canada
- Center for Bioengineering Research and Education; Biomedical Engineering Program; University of Calgary; Calgary T2N 1N4 AB Canada
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27
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Ahadian S, Civitarese R, Bannerman D, Mohammadi MH, Lu R, Wang E, Davenport-Huyer L, Lai B, Zhang B, Zhao Y, Mandla S, Korolj A, Radisic M. Organ-On-A-Chip Platforms: A Convergence of Advanced Materials, Cells, and Microscale Technologies. Adv Healthc Mater 2018; 7. [PMID: 29034591 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201700506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Revised: 06/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Significant advances in biomaterials, stem cell biology, and microscale technologies have enabled the fabrication of biologically relevant tissues and organs. Such tissues and organs, referred to as organ-on-a-chip (OOC) platforms, have emerged as a powerful tool in tissue analysis and disease modeling for biological and pharmacological applications. A variety of biomaterials are used in tissue fabrication providing multiple biological, structural, and mechanical cues in the regulation of cell behavior and tissue morphogenesis. Cells derived from humans enable the fabrication of personalized OOC platforms. Microscale technologies are specifically helpful in providing physiological microenvironments for tissues and organs. In this review, biomaterials, cells, and microscale technologies are described as essential components to construct OOC platforms. The latest developments in OOC platforms (e.g., liver, skeletal muscle, cardiac, cancer, lung, skin, bone, and brain) are then discussed as functional tools in simulating human physiology and metabolism. Future perspectives and major challenges in the development of OOC platforms toward accelerating clinical studies of drug discovery are finally highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samad Ahadian
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
| | - Robert Civitarese
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
| | - Dawn Bannerman
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
| | - Mohammad Hossein Mohammadi
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
| | - Rick Lu
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
| | - Erika Wang
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
| | - Locke Davenport-Huyer
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
| | - Ben Lai
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
| | - Boyang Zhang
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
| | - Yimu Zhao
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
| | - Serena Mandla
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
| | - Anastasia Korolj
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
| | - Milica Radisic
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry; University of Toronto; Toronto M5S 3G9 Ontario Canada
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Islam MM, Beverung S, Steward R. Bio-Inspired Microdevices that Mimic the Human Vasculature. MICROMACHINES 2017; 8:mi8100299. [PMID: 30400489 PMCID: PMC6190335 DOI: 10.3390/mi8100299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Revised: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Blood vessels may be found throughout the entire body and their importance to human life is undeniable. This is evident in the fact that a malfunctioning blood vessel can result in mild symptoms such as shortness of breath or chest pain to more severe symptoms such as a heart attack or stroke, to even death in the severest of cases. Furthermore, there are a host of pathologies that have been linked to the human vasculature. As a result many researchers have attempted to unlock the mysteries of the vasculature by performing studies that duplicate the physiological structural, chemical, and mechanical properties known to exist. While the ideal study would consist of utilizing living, blood vessels derived from human tissue, such studies are not always possible since intact human blood vessels are not readily accessible and there are immense technical difficulties associated with such studies. These limitations have opened the door for the development of microdevices modeled after the human vasculature as it is believed by many researchers in the field that such devices can one day replace tissue models. In this review we present an overview of microdevices developed to mimic various types of vasculature found throughout the human body. Although the human body contains a diverse array of vascular systems for this review we limit our discussion to the cardiovascular system and cerebrovascular system and discuss such systems that have been fabricated in both 2D and 3D configurations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Mydul Islam
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA.
| | - Sean Beverung
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA.
| | - Robert Steward
- Departments of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Medicine, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA.
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29
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Abstract
Recent findings suggest that mechanical forces strongly influence wound repair and fibrosis across multiple organ systems. Traction force is vital to the characterization of cellular responses to mechanical stimuli. Using hydrogel-based traction force microscopy, a FRET-based tension sensor, or microengineered cantilevers, the magnitude of traction forces can be measured. Here, we describe a traction force measurement methodology using a dense array of elastomeric microposts. This platform can be used to measure the traction force of a single cell or a colony of cells with or without geometric confinement.
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Rathod ML, Ahn J, Jeon NL, Lee J. Hybrid polymer microfluidic platform to mimic varying vascular compliance and topology. LAB ON A CHIP 2017; 17:2508-2516. [PMID: 28653725 DOI: 10.1039/c7lc00340d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Several cardiovascular pathologies and aging have been associated with alterations in the mechanical and structural properties of the vascular wall, leading to a reduction in arterial compliance and the development of constriction. In the past, rare efforts have been directed to understand the endothelial cell response to combined mechanical stimuli from fluid flow and substrate rigidity. Recent approaches using microfluidic platforms have limitations in precisely mimicking healthy and diseased vasculature conditions from altered topological and substrate compliance perspectives. To address this, we demonstrated an effective fabrication process to realize a hybrid polymer platform to test these mechanistic features of blood vessels. The salient features of the platform include circular microchannels of varying diameters, variation in substrate rigidity along the channel length, and the coexistence of microchannels with different cross sections on a single platform. The platform demonstrates the combined effects of flow-induced shear forces and substrate rigidity on the endothelial cell layer inside the circular microchannels. The experimental results indicate a pronounced cell response to flow induced shear stress via its interplay with the underlying substrate mechanics.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L Rathod
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-744, South Korea.
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31
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Boldock L, Wittkowske C, Perrault CM. Microfluidic traction force microscopy to study mechanotransduction in angiogenesis. Microcirculation 2017; 24. [DOI: 10.1111/micc.12361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Luke Boldock
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and INSIGNEO Institute for in Silico Medicine; University of Sheffield; Sheffield UK
| | - Claudia Wittkowske
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and INSIGNEO Institute for in Silico Medicine; University of Sheffield; Sheffield UK
| | - Cecile M. Perrault
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and INSIGNEO Institute for in Silico Medicine; University of Sheffield; Sheffield UK
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32
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Abstract
In vivo, cells of the vascular system are subjected to various mechanical stimuli and have demonstrated the ability to adapt their behavior via mechanotransduction. Recent advances in microfluidic and "on-chip" techniques have provided the technology to study these alterations in cell behavior. Contrary to traditional in vitro assays such as transwell plates and parallel plate flow chambers, these microfluidic devices (MFDs) provide the opportunity to integrate multiple mechanical cues (e.g. shear stress, confinement, substrate stiffness, vessel geometry and topography) with in situ quantification capabilities. As such, MFDs can be used to recapitulate the in vivo mechanical setting and systematically vary microenvironmental conditions for improved mechanobiological studies of the endothelium. Additionally, adequate modelling provides for enhanced understanding of disease progression, design of cell separation and drug delivery systems, and the development of biomaterials for tissue engineering applications. Here, we will discuss the advances in knowledge about endothelial cell mechanosensing resulting from the design and application of biomimetic on-chip and microfluidic platforms.
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33
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Cui X, Guo W, Sun Y, Sun B, Hu S, Sun D, Lam RHW. A microfluidic device for isolation and characterization of transendothelial migrating cancer cells. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2017; 11:014105. [PMID: 28798840 PMCID: PMC5533502 DOI: 10.1063/1.4974012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 01/02/2017] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Transendothelial migration of cancer cells is a critical stage in cancer, including breast cancer, as the migrating cells are generally believed to be highly metastatic. However, it is still challenging for many existing platforms to achieve a fully covering endothelium and to ensure transendothelial migration capability of the extracted cancer cells for analyses with high specificity. Here, we report a microfluidic device containing multiple independent cell collection microchambers underneath an embedded endothelium such that the transendothelial-migrated cells can be selectively collected from only the microchambers with full coverage of an endothelial layer. In this work, we first optimize the pore size of a microfabricated supporting membrane for the endothelium formation. We quantify transendothelial migration rates of a malignant human breast cell type (MDA-MB-231) under different shear stress levels. We investigate characteristics of the migrating cells including morphology, cytoskeletal structures, and migration (speed and persistence). Further implementation of this endothelium-embedded microfluidic device can provide important insights into migration and intracellular characteristics related to cancer metastasis and strategies for effective cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Cui
- Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Weijin Guo
- Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Yubing Sun
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01002, USA
| | - Baoce Sun
- Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Shuhuan Hu
- Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
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34
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Herath SCB, Sharghi-Namini S, Du Y, Wang D, Ge R, Wang QG, Asada H, Chen PCY. A Magneto-Microfluidic System for Investigating the Influence of an Externally Induced Force Gradient in a Collagen Type I ECM on HMVEC Sprouting. SLAS Technol 2016; 22:413-424. [DOI: 10.1177/2211068216680078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Advances in mechanobiology have suggested that physiological and pathological angiogenesis may be differentiated based on the ways in which the cells interact with the extracellular matrix (ECM) that exhibits partially different mechanical properties. This warrants investigating the regulation of ECM stiffness on cell behavior using angiogenesis assays. In this article, we report the application of the technique of active manipulation of ECM stiffness to study in vitro angiogenic sprouting of human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVECs) in a microfluidic device. Magnetic beads were embedded in the ECM through bioconjugation (between the streptavidin-coated beads and collagen fibers) in order to create a pretension in the ECM when under the influence of an external magnetic field. The advantage of using this magneto-microfluidic system is that the resulting change in the local deformability of the collagen fibers is only apparent to a cell at the pericellular level near the site of an embedded bead, while the global intrinsic material properties of the ECM remain unchanged. The results demonstrate that this system represents an effective tool for inducing noninvasively an external force on cells through the ECM, and suggest the possibility of creating desired stiffness gradients in the ECM for manipulating cell behavior in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahan C. B. Herath
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Biosystem and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore–MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Program, Singapore
| | - Soheila Sharghi-Namini
- Biosystem and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore–MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Program, Singapore
| | - Yue Du
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Biosystem and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore–MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Program, Singapore
| | - Dongan Wang
- Division of Bioengineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Ruowen Ge
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Qing-Guo Wang
- Institute for Intelligent Systems, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Harry Asada
- Biosystem and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore–MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Program, Singapore
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Peter C. Y. Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Biosystem and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore–MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Program, Singapore
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35
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Yu ZTF, Cheung MK, Liu SX, Fu J. Accelerated Biofluid Filling in Complex Microfluidic Networks by Vacuum-Pressure Accelerated Movement (V-PAM). SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2016; 12:4521-30. [PMID: 27409528 PMCID: PMC6215695 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201601231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2016] [Revised: 06/11/2016] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Rapid fluid transport and exchange are critical operations involved in many microfluidic applications. However, conventional mechanisms used for driving fluid transport in microfluidics, such as micropumping and high pressure, can be inaccurate and difficult for implementation for integrated microfluidics containing control components and closed compartments. Here, a technology has been developed termed Vacuum-Pressure Accelerated Movement (V-PAM) capable of significantly enhancing biofluid transport in complex microfluidic environments containing dead-end channels and closed chambers. Operation of the V-PAM entails a pressurized fluid loading into microfluidic channels where gas confined inside can rapidly be dissipated through permeation through a thin, gas-permeable membrane sandwiched between microfluidic channels and a network of vacuum channels. Effects of different structural and operational parameters of the V-PAM for promoting fluid filling in microfluidic environments have been studied systematically. This work further demonstrates the applicability of V-PAM for rapid filling of temperature-sensitive hydrogels and unprocessed whole blood into complex irregular microfluidic networks such as microfluidic leaf venation patterns and blood circulatory systems. Together, the V-PAM technology provides a promising generic microfluidic tool for advanced fluid control and transport in integrated microfluidics for different microfluidic diagnosis, organs-on-chips, and biomimetic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeta Tak For Yu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Mei Ki Cheung
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Shirley Xiaosu Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Jianping Fu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Michigan Center for Integrative Research in Critical Care, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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36
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Liu W, Bao Y, Lam ML, Xu T, Xie K, Man HS, Chan EY, Zhu N, Lam RHW, Chen TH. Nanowire Magnetoscope Reveals a Cellular Torque with Left-Right Bias. ACS NANO 2016; 10:7409-7417. [PMID: 27389867 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.6b01142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Cellular force regulates many types of cell mechanics and the associated physiological behaviors. Recent evidence suggested that cell motion with left-right (LR) bias may be the origin of LR asymmetry in tissue architecture. As actomyosin activity was found essential in the process, it predicts a type of cellular force that coordinates the development of LR asymmetry in tissue formation. However, due to the lack of appropriate platform, cellular force with LR bias has not yet been found. Here we report a nanowire magnetoscope that reveals a rotating force-torque-exerted by cells. Ferromagnetic nanowires were deposited and internalized by micropatterned cells. Within a uniform, horizontal magnetic field, the nanowires that initially aligned with the magnetic field were subsequently rotated due to the cellular torque. We found that the torque is LR-biased depending on cell types. While NIH 3T3 fibroblasts and human vascular endothelial cells exhibited counterclockwise torque, C2C12 myoblasts showed torque with slight clockwise bias. Moreover, an actin ring composed of transverse arcs and radial fibers was identified as a major factor determining the LR bias of cellular torque, since the disruption of actin ring by biochemical inhibitors or elongated cell shape abrogated the counterclockwise bias of NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. Our finding reveals a LR-biased torque of single cells and a fundamental origin of cytoskeletal chirality. More broadly, we anticipate that our method will provide a different perspective on mechanics-related cell physiology and force transmission necessary for LR propagation in tissue formation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Miu Ling Lam
- CityU Shenzhen Research Institute , Shenzhen, 518057, China
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37
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Tran QD, Kong TF, Hu D, Lam RHW. Deterministic sequential isolation of floating cancer cells under continuous flow. LAB ON A CHIP 2016; 16:2813-9. [PMID: 27387093 DOI: 10.1039/c6lc00615a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Isolation of rare cells, such as circulating tumor cells, has been challenging because of their low abundance and limited timeframes of expressions of relevant cell characteristics. In this work, we devise a novel hydrodynamic mechanism to sequentially trap and isolate floating cells in biosamples. We develop a microfluidic device for the sequential isolation of floating cancer cells through a series of microsieves to obtain up to 100% trapping yield and >95% sequential isolation efficiency. We optimize the trappers' dimensions and locations through both computational and experimental analyses using microbeads and cells. Furthermore, we investigated the functional range of flow rates for effective sequential cell isolation by taking the cell deformability into account. We verify the cell isolation ability using the human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 with perfect agreement with the microbead results. The viability of the isolated cells can be maintained for direct identification of any cell characteristics within the device. We further demonstrate that this device can be applied to isolate the largest particles from a sample containing multiple sizes of particles, revealing its possible applicability in isolation of circulating tumor cells in cancer patients' blood. Our study provides a promising sequential cell isolation strategy with high potential for rapid detection and analysis of general floating cells, including circulating tumor cells and other rare cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quang D Tran
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
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38
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Bao Y, Huang Y, Lam ML, Xu T, Zhu N, Guo Z, Cui X, Lam RHW, Chen TH. Substrate Stiffness Regulates the Development of Left-Right Asymmetry in Cell Orientation. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2016; 8:17976-17986. [PMID: 27359036 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.6b06789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Left-right (LR) asymmetry of tissue/organ structure is a morphological feature essential for many tissue functions. The ability to incorporate the LR formation in constructing tissue/organ replacement is important for recapturing the inherent tissue structure and functions. However, how LR asymmetry is formed remains largely underdetermined, which creates significant hurdles to reproduce and regulate the formation of LR asymmetry in an engineering context. Here, we report substrate rigidity functioning as an effective switch that turns on the development of LR asymmetry. Using micropatterned cell-adherent stripes on rigid substrates, we found that cells collectively oriented at a LR-biased angle relative to the stripe boundary. This LR asymmetry was initiated by a LR-biased migration of cells at stripe boundary, which later generated a velocity gradient propagating from stripe boundary to the center. After a series of cell translocations and rotations, ultimately, an LR-biased cell orientation within the micropatterned stripe was formed. Importantly, this initiation and propagation of LR asymmetry was observed only on rigid but not on soft substrates, suggesting that the LR asymmetry was regulated by rigid substrate probably through the organization of actin cytoskeleton. Together, we demonstrated substrate rigidity as a determinant factor that mediates the self-organizing LR asymmetry being unfolded from single cells to multicellular organization. More broadly, we anticipate that our findings would pave the way for rebuilding artificial tissue constructs with inherent LR asymmetry in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Miu Ling Lam
- CityU Shenzhen Research Institute , Shenzhen 518057, China
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39
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Gupta M, Doss B, Lim CT, Voituriez R, Ladoux B. Single cell rigidity sensing: A complex relationship between focal adhesion dynamics and large-scale actin cytoskeleton remodeling. Cell Adh Migr 2016; 10:554-567. [PMID: 27050660 DOI: 10.1080/19336918.2016.1173800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Many physiological and pathological processes involve tissue cells sensing the rigidity of their environment. In general, tissue cells have been shown to react to the stiffness of their environment by regulating their level of contractility, and in turn applying traction forces on their environment to probe it. This mechanosensitive process can direct early cell adhesion, cell migration and even cell differentiation. These processes require the integration of signals over time and multiple length scales. Multiple strategies have been developed to understand force- and rigidity-sensing mechanisms and much effort has been concentrated on the study of cell adhesion complexes, such as focal adhesions, and cell cytoskeletons. Here, we review the major biophysical methods used for measuring cell-traction forces as well as the mechanosensitive processes that drive cellular responses to matrix rigidity on 2-dimensional substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukund Gupta
- a Mechanobiology Institute (MBI) , National University of Singapore , Singapore
| | - Bryant Doss
- a Mechanobiology Institute (MBI) , National University of Singapore , Singapore
| | - Chwee Teck Lim
- a Mechanobiology Institute (MBI) , National University of Singapore , Singapore.,b Department of Biomedical Engineering , Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore , Singapore
| | | | - Benoit Ladoux
- a Mechanobiology Institute (MBI) , National University of Singapore , Singapore.,d Institut Jacques Monod (IJM) , CNRS UMR 7592 & University Paris Diderot , Paris , France
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40
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Microfluidic assay-based optical measurement techniques for cell analysis: A review of recent progress. Biosens Bioelectron 2016; 77:227-36. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2015.07.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2015] [Revised: 07/28/2015] [Accepted: 07/29/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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41
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Ribeiro AJS, Denisin AK, Wilson RE, Pruitt BL. For whom the cells pull: Hydrogel and micropost devices for measuring traction forces. Methods 2016; 94:51-64. [PMID: 26265073 PMCID: PMC4746112 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2015.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2015] [Revised: 07/10/2015] [Accepted: 08/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
While performing several functions, adherent cells deform their surrounding substrate via stable adhesions that connect the intracellular cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix. The traction forces that deform the substrate are studied in mechanotrasduction because they are affected by the mechanics of the extracellular milieu. We review the development and application of two methods widely used to measure traction forces generated by cells on 2D substrates: (i) traction force microscopy with polyacrylamide hydrogels and (ii) calculation of traction forces with arrays of deformable microposts. Measuring forces with these methods relies on measuring substrate displacements and converting them into forces. We describe approaches to determine force from displacements and elaborate on the necessary experimental conditions for this type of analysis. We emphasize device fabrication, mechanical calibration of substrates and covalent attachment of extracellular matrix proteins to substrates as key features in the design of experiments to measure cell traction forces with polyacrylamide hydrogels or microposts. We also report the challenges and achievements in integrating these methods with platforms for the mechanical stimulation of adherent cells. The approaches described here will enable new studies to understand cell mechanical outputs as a function of mechanical inputs and advance the understanding of mechanotransduction mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre J S Ribeiro
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, United States; Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, United States
| | - Aleksandra K Denisin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, United States; Stanford Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, United States
| | - Robin E Wilson
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, United States
| | - Beth L Pruitt
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, United States; Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, United States; Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, United States.
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42
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Integrated Circuit-Based Biofabrication with Common Biomaterials for Probing Cellular Biomechanics. Trends Biotechnol 2016; 34:171-186. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2015.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2015] [Revised: 11/03/2015] [Accepted: 11/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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43
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Application of microfluidic “lab-on-a-chip” for the detection of mycotoxins in foods. Trends Food Sci Technol 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tifs.2015.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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44
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Shemesh J, Jalilian I, Shi A, Heng Yeoh G, Knothe Tate ML, Ebrahimi Warkiani M. Flow-induced stress on adherent cells in microfluidic devices. LAB ON A CHIP 2015; 15:4114-27. [PMID: 26334370 DOI: 10.1039/c5lc00633c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Transduction of mechanical forces and chemical signals affect every cell in the human body. Fluid flow in systems such as the lymphatic or circulatory systems modulates not only cell morphology, but also gene expression patterns, extracellular matrix protein secretion and cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesions. Similar to the role of mechanical forces in adaptation of tissues, shear fluid flow orchestrates collective behaviours of adherent cells found at the interface between tissues and their fluidic environments. These behaviours range from alignment of endothelial cells in the direction of flow to stem cell lineage commitment. Therefore, it is important to characterize quantitatively fluid interface-dependent cell activity. Common macro-scale techniques, such as the parallel plate flow chamber and vertical-step flow methods that apply fluid-induced stress on adherent cells, offer standardization, repeatability and ease of operation. However, in order to achieve improved control over a cell's microenvironment, additional microscale-based techniques are needed. The use of microfluidics for this has been recognized, but its true potential has emerged only recently with the advent of hybrid systems, offering increased throughput, multicellular interactions, substrate functionalization on 3D geometries, and simultaneous control over chemical and mechanical stimulation. In this review, we discuss recent advances in microfluidic flow systems for adherent cells and elaborate on their suitability to mimic physiologic micromechanical environments subjected to fluid flow. We describe device design considerations in light of ongoing discoveries in mechanobiology and point to future trends of this promising technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Shemesh
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
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45
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Hu D, Cheng TK, Xie K, Lam RHW. Microengineered Conductive Elastomeric Electrodes for Long-Term Electrophysiological Measurements with Consistent Impedance under Stretch. SENSORS 2015; 15:26906-20. [PMID: 26512662 PMCID: PMC4634439 DOI: 10.3390/s151026906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2015] [Revised: 10/10/2015] [Accepted: 10/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In this research, we develop a micro-engineered conductive elastomeric electrode for measurements of human bio-potentials with the absence of conductive pastes. Mixing the biocompatible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) silicone with other biocompatible conductive nano-particles further provides the material with an electrical conductivity. We apply micro-replica mold casting for the micro-structures, which are arrays of micro-pillars embedded between two bulk conductive-PDMS layers. These micro-structures can reduce the micro-structural deformations along the direction of signal transmission; therefore the corresponding electrical impedance under the physical stretch by the movement of the human body can be maintained. Additionally, we conduct experiments to compare the electrical properties between the bulk conductive-PDMS material and the microengineered electrodes under stretch. We also demonstrate the working performance of these micro-engineered electrodes in the acquisition of the 12-lead electrocardiographs (ECG) of a healthy subject. Together, the presented gel-less microengineered electrodes can provide a more convenient and stable bio-potential measurement platform, making tele-medical care more achievable with reduced technical barriers for instrument installation performed by patients/users themselves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinglong Hu
- Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Tin Kei Cheng
- Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Kai Xie
- Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Raymond H W Lam
- Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
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46
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Lim YC, McGlashan SR, Cooling MT, Long DS. Culture and detection of primary cilia in endothelial cell models. Cilia 2015; 4:11. [PMID: 26430510 PMCID: PMC4590708 DOI: 10.1186/s13630-015-0020-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2015] [Accepted: 09/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The primary cilium is a sensor of blood-induced forces in endothelial cells (ECs). Studies that have examined EC primary cilia have reported a wide range of cilia incidence (percentage of ciliated cells). We hypothesise that this variation is due to the diversity in culture conditions in which the cells are grown. We studied two EC types: human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1s). Both cell types were grown in media containing foetal bovine serum (FBS) at high (20 % FBS and 10 % FBS for HUVECs and HMEC-1s, respectively) or low (2 % FBS) concentrations. Cells were then either fixed at confluence, serum-starved or grown post-confluence for 5 days in corresponding expansion media (cobblestone treatment). For each culture condition, we quantified cilia incidence and length. RESULTS HUVEC ciliogenesis is dependent on serum concentration during the growth phase; low serum (2 % FBS) HUVECs were not ciliated, whereas high serum (20 % FBS) confluent HUVECs have a cilia incidence of 2.1 ± 2.2 % (median ± interquartile range). We report, for the first time, the presence of cilia in the HMEC-1 cell type. HMEC-1s have between 2.2 and 3.5 times greater cilia incidence than HUVECs (p < 0.001). HMEC-1s also have shorter cilia compared to HUVECs (3.0 ± 1.0 μm versus 5.1 ± 2.4 μm, at confluence, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate that FBS plays a role in determining the prevalence of cilia in HUVECs. In doing so, we highlight the importance of considering a commonly varied parameter (% FBS), in the experimental design. We recommend that future studies examining large blood vessel EC primary cilia use confluent HUVECs grown in high serum medium, as we found these cells to have a higher cilia incidence than low serum media HUVECs. For studies interested in microvasculature EC primary cilia, we recommend using cobblestone HMEC-1s grown in high serum medium, as these cells have a 19.5 ± 6.2 % cilia incidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Chung Lim
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, 70 Symonds Street, Auckland, 1142 New Zealand
| | - Sue R McGlashan
- Department of Anatomy with Radiology, University of Auckland, 85 Park Road, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Michael T Cooling
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, 70 Symonds Street, Auckland, 1142 New Zealand
| | - David S Long
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, 70 Symonds Street, Auckland, 1142 New Zealand ; Department of Engineering Science, University of Auckland, 70 Symonds Street, Auckland, New Zealand
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Two-bubble acoustic tweezing cytometry for biomechanical probing and stimulation of cells. Biophys J 2015; 108:32-42. [PMID: 25564850 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2014.11.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2014] [Revised: 10/04/2014] [Accepted: 11/04/2014] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The study of mechanotransduction relies on tools that are capable of applying mechanical forces to elicit and assess cellular responses. Here we report a new (to our knowledge) technique, called two-bubble acoustic tweezing cytometry (TB-ATC), for generating spatiotemporally controlled subcellular mechanical forces on live cells by acoustic actuation of paired microbubbles targeted to the cell adhesion receptor integrin. By measuring the ultrasound-induced activities of cell-bound microbubbles and the actin cytoskeleton contractile force responses, we determine that TB-ATC elicits mechanoresponsive cellular changes via cyclic, paired displacements of integrin-bound microbubbles driven by the attractive secondary acoustic radiation force (sARF) between the bubbles in an ultrasound field. We demonstrate the feasibility of dual-mode TB-ATC for both subcellular probing and mechanical stimulation. By exploiting the robust and unique interaction of ultrasound with microbubbles, TB-ATC provides distinct advantages for experimentation and quantification of applied forces and cellular responses for biomechanical probing and stimulation of cells.
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48
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Geng Y, Wang Z. Review of cellular mechanotransduction on micropost substrates. Med Biol Eng Comput 2015; 54:249-71. [PMID: 26245253 DOI: 10.1007/s11517-015-1343-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2014] [Accepted: 07/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
As physical entities, living cells can sense and respond to various stimulations within and outside the body through cellular mechanotransduction. Any deviation in cellular mechanotransduction will not only undermine the orchestrated regulation of mechanical responses, but also lead to the breakdown of their physiological function. Therefore, a quantitative study of cellular mechanotransduction needs to be conducted both in experiments and in computational simulations to investigate the underlying mechanisms of cellular mechanotransduction. In this review, we present an overview of the current knowledge and significant progress in cellular mechanotransduction via micropost substrates. In the aspect of experimental studies, we summarize significant experimental progress and place an emphasis on the coupled relationship among cellular spreading, focal adhesion and contractility as well as the influence of substrate properties on force-involved cellular behaviors. In the other aspect of computational investigations, we outline a coupled framework including the biochemically motivated stress fiber model and thermodynamically motivated adhesion model and present their predicted biomechanical responses and then compare predicted simulation results with experimental observations to further explore the mechanisms of cellular mechanotransduction. At last, we discuss the future perspectives both in experimental technologies and in computational models, as well as facing challenges in the area of cellular mechanotransduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxu Geng
- State Key Laboratory of Mechanical Transmission, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Zhanjiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Mechanical Transmission, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China.
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Galler K, Bräutigam K, Große C, Popp J, Neugebauer U. Making a big thing of a small cell--recent advances in single cell analysis. Analyst 2015; 139:1237-73. [PMID: 24495980 DOI: 10.1039/c3an01939j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Single cell analysis is an emerging field requiring a high level interdisciplinary collaboration to provide detailed insights into the complex organisation, function and heterogeneity of life. This review is addressed to life science researchers as well as researchers developing novel technologies. It covers all aspects of the characterisation of single cells (with a special focus on mammalian cells) from morphology to genetics and different omics-techniques to physiological, mechanical and electrical methods. In recent years, tremendous advances have been achieved in all fields of single cell analysis: (1) improved spatial and temporal resolution of imaging techniques to enable the tracking of single molecule dynamics within single cells; (2) increased throughput to reveal unexpected heterogeneity between different individual cells raising the question what characterizes a cell type and what is just natural biological variation; and (3) emerging multimodal approaches trying to bring together information from complementary techniques paving the way for a deeper understanding of the complexity of biological processes. This review also covers the first successful translations of single cell analysis methods to diagnostic applications in the field of tumour research (especially circulating tumour cells), regenerative medicine, drug discovery and immunology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Galler
- Integrated Research and Treatment Center "Center for Sepsis Control and Care", Jena University Hospital, Erlanger Allee 101, 07747 Jena, Germany
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Microsphere-assisted fabrication of high aspect-ratio elastomeric micropillars and waveguides. Nat Commun 2015; 5:3324. [PMID: 24525627 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2013] [Accepted: 01/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
High aspect-ratio micropillars are in strong demand for microtechnology, but their realization remains a difficult challenge, especially when attempted with soft materials. Here we present a direct drawing-based technique for fabricating micropillars with poly(dimethylsiloxane). Despite the material's extreme softness, our technique enables routine realization of micropillars exceeding 2,000 μm in height and 100 in aspect-ratio. It also supports in situ integration of microspheres at the tips of the micropillars. As a validation of the new structure's utility, we configure it into airflow sensors, in which the micropillars and microspheres function as flexible upright waveguides and self-aligned reflectors, respectively. High-level bending of the micropillar under an airflow and its optical read-out enables mm s(-1) scale-sensing resolution. This new scheme, which uniquely integrates high aspect-ratio elastomeric micropillars and microspheres self-aligned to them, could widen the scope of soft material-based microdevice technology.
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