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Ly KL, Hu P, Pham LHP, Luo X. Flow-assembled chitosan membranes in microfluidics: recent advances and applications. J Mater Chem B 2021; 9:3258-3283. [PMID: 33725061 PMCID: PMC8369861 DOI: 10.1039/d1tb00045d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The integration of membranes in microfluidic devices has been extensively exploited for various chemical engineering and bioengineering applications over the past few decades. To augment the applicability of membrane-integrated microfluidic platforms for biomedical and tissue engineering studies, a biologically friendly fabrication process with naturally occurring materials is highly desired. The in situ preparation of membranes involving interfacial reactions between parallel laminar flows in microfluidic networks, known as the flow-assembly technique, is one of the most biocompatible approaches. Membranes of many types with flexible geometries have been successfully assembled inside complex microchannels using this facile and versatile flow-assembly approach. Chitosan is a naturally abundant polysaccharide known for its pronounced biocompatibility, biodegradability, good mechanical stability, ease of modification and processing, and film-forming ability under near-physiological conditions. Chitosan membranes assembled by flows in microfluidics are freestanding, robust, semipermeable, and well-aligned in microstructure, and show high affinity to bioactive reagents and biological components (e.g. biomolecules, nanoparticles, or cells) that provide facile biological functionalization of microdevices. Here, we discuss the recent developments and optimizations in the flow-assembly of chitosan membranes and chitosan-based membranes in microfluidics. Furthermore, we recapitulate the applications of the chitosan membrane-integrated microfluidic platforms dedicated to biology, biochemistry, and drug release fields, and envision the future developments of this important platform with versatile functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khanh L Ly
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA
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2
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Clark-Cotton MR, Henderson NT, Pablo M, Ghose D, Elston TC, Lew DJ. Exploratory polarization facilitates mating partner selection in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mol Biol Cell 2021; 32:1048-1063. [PMID: 33689470 PMCID: PMC8101489 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e21-02-0068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Yeast decode pheromone gradients to locate mating partners, providing a model for chemotropism. How yeast polarize toward a single partner in crowded environments is unclear. Initially, cells often polarize in unproductive directions, but then they relocate the polarity site until two partners’ polarity sites align, whereupon the cells “commit” to each other by stabilizing polarity to promote fusion. Here we address the role of the early mobile polarity sites. We found that commitment by either partner failed if just one partner was defective in generating, orienting, or stabilizing its mobile polarity sites. Mobile polarity sites were enriched for pheromone receptors and G proteins, and we suggest that such sites engage in an exploratory search of the local pheromone landscape, stabilizing only when they detect elevated pheromone levels. Mobile polarity sites were also enriched for pheromone secretion factors, and simulations suggest that only focal secretion at polarity sites would produce high pheromone concentrations at the partner’s polarity site, triggering commitment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicholas T Henderson
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708
| | - Michael Pablo
- Department of Chemistry, Chapel Hill, NC 27599.,Program in Molecular and Cellular Biophysics, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Debraj Ghose
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708
| | - Timothy C Elston
- Department of Pharmacology and Computational Medicine Program, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Daniel J Lew
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708
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3
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Schunke C, Pöggeler S, Nordzieke DE. A 3D Printed Device for Easy and Reliable Quantification of Fungal Chemotropic Growth. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:584525. [PMID: 33224121 PMCID: PMC7669831 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.584525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemical gradients are surrounding living organisms in all habitats of life. Microorganisms, plants and animals have developed specific mechanisms to sense such gradients. Upon perception, chemical gradients can be categorized either as favorable, like nutrients or hormones, or as disadvantageous, resulting in a clear orientation toward the gradient and avoiding strategies, respectively. Being sessile organisms, fungi use chemical gradients for their orientation in the environment. Integration of this data enables them to successfully explore nutrient sources, identify probable plant or animal hosts, and to communicate during sexual reproduction or early colony development. We have developed a 3D printed device allowing a highly standardized, rapid and low-cost investigation of chemotropic growth processes in fungi. Since the 3D printed device is placed on a microscope slide, detailed microscopic investigations and documentation of the chemotropic process is possible. Using this device, we provide evidence that germlings derived from oval conidia of the hemibiotrophic plant pathogen Colletotrichum graminicola can sense gradients of glucose and reorient their growth toward the nutrient source. We describe in detail the method establishment, probable pitfalls, and provide the original program files for 3D printing to enable broad application of the 3D device in basic, agricultural, medical, and applied fungal science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolin Schunke
- Department of Genetics of Eukaryotic Microorganisms, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg August University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stefanie Pöggeler
- Department of Genetics of Eukaryotic Microorganisms, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg August University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Daniela Elisabeth Nordzieke
- Department of Genetics of Eukaryotic Microorganisms, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg August University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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4
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Chen P, Li S, Guo Y, Zeng X, Liu BF. A review on microfluidics manipulation of the extracellular chemical microenvironment and its emerging application to cell analysis. Anal Chim Acta 2020; 1125:94-113. [PMID: 32674786 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2020.05.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Spatiotemporal manipulation of extracellular chemical environments with simultaneous monitoring of cellular responses plays an essential role in exploring fundamental biological processes and expands our understanding of underlying mechanisms. Despite the rapid progress and promising successes in manipulation strategies, many challenges remain due to the small size of cells and the rapid diffusion of chemical molecules. Fortunately, emerging microfluidic technology has become a powerful approach for precisely controlling the extracellular chemical microenvironment, which benefits from its integration capacity, automation, and high-throughput capability, as well as its high resolution down to submicron. Here, we summarize recent advances in microfluidics manipulation of the extracellular chemical microenvironment, including the following aspects: i) Spatial manipulation of chemical microenvironments realized by convection flow-, diffusion-, and droplet-based microfluidics, and surface chemical modification; ii) Temporal manipulation of chemical microenvironments enabled by flow switching/shifting, moving/flowing cells across laminar flows, integrated microvalves/pumps, and droplet manipulation; iii) Spatiotemporal manipulation of chemical microenvironments implemented by a coupling strategy and open-space microfluidics; and iv) High-throughput manipulation of chemical microenvironments. Finally, we briefly present typical applications of the above-mentioned technical advances in cell-based analyses including cell migration, cell signaling, cell differentiation, multicellular analysis, and drug screening. We further discuss the future improvement of microfluidics manipulation of extracellular chemical microenvironments to fulfill the needs of biological and biomedical research and applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Chen
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics & Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Shunji Li
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics & Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Yiran Guo
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics & Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Xuemei Zeng
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics & Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Bi-Feng Liu
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics & Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.
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5
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You JB, Lee B, Choi Y, Lee CS, Peter M, Im SG, Lee SS. Nanoadhesive layer to prevent protein absorption in a poly(dimethylsiloxane) microfluidic device. Biotechniques 2020; 69:404-409. [PMID: 32372656 DOI: 10.2144/btn-2020-0025] [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: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) is widely used as a microfluidics platform material; however, it absorbs various molecules, perturbing specific chemical concentrations in microfluidic channels. We present a simple solution to prevent adsorption into a PDMS microfluidic device. We used a vapor-phase-deposited nanoadhesive layer to seal PDMS microfluidic channels. Absorption of fluorescent molecules into PDMS was efficiently prevented in the nanolayer-treated PDMS device. Importantly, when cultured in a nanolayer-treated PDMS device, yeast cells exhibited the expected concentration-dependent response to a mating pheromone, including mating-specific morphological and gene expression changes, while yeast cultured in an untreated PDMS device did not properly respond to the pheromone. Our method greatly expands microfluidic applications that require precise control of molecule concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Bem You
- Department of Chemical & Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Byungjin Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Yunho Choi
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang-Soo Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Matthias Peter
- Institute for Biochemistry, ETH Zürich, Zürich, CH 8093, Switzerland
| | - Sung Gap Im
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Sik Lee
- Institute for Biochemistry, ETH Zürich, Zürich, CH 8093, Switzerland.,Scientific Center for Optical & Electron Microscopy (ScopeM), ETH Zürich, Zürich, CH 8093, Switzerland
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6
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Vo T, Shah SB, Choy JS, Luo X. Chemotropism among populations of yeast cells with spatiotemporal resolution in a biofabricated microfluidic platform. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2020; 14:014108. [PMID: 32002107 PMCID: PMC6980865 DOI: 10.1063/1.5128739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Chemotropism is an essential response of organisms to external chemical gradients that direct the growth of cells toward the gradient source. Chemotropic responses between single cells have been studied using in vitro gradients of synthetically derived signaling molecules and helped to develop a better understanding of chemotropism in multiple organisms. However, dynamic changes including spatial changes to the gradient as well as fluctuations in levels of cell generated signaling molecules can result in the redirection of chemotropic responses, which can be difficult to model with synthetic peptides and single cells. An experimental system that brings together populations of cells to monitor the population-scale chemotropic responses yet retain single cell spatiotemporal resolution would be useful to further inform on models of chemotropism. Here, we describe a microfluidic platform that can measure the chemotropic response between populations of mating yeast A- and α-cells with spatiotemporal programmability and sensitivity by positioning cell populations side by side in calcium alginate hydrogels along semipermeable membranes with micrometer spatial control. The mating phenotypes of the yeast populations were clearly observed over hours. Three distinct responses were observed depending on the distance between the A- and α-cell populations: the cells either continued to divide, arrest, and develop a stereotypical polarized projection termed a "shmoo" toward the cells of opposite mating type or formed shmoos in random directions. The results from our studies of yeast mating suggest that the biofabricated microfluidic platform can be adopted to study population-scale, spatial-sensitive cell-cell signaling behaviors that would be challenging using conventional approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanh Vo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. 20064, USA
| | - Sameer B. Shah
- Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. 20064, USA
| | - John S. Choy
- Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. 20064, USA
| | - Xiaolong Luo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. 20064, USA
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7
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Brett ME, Bomberger HE, Doak GR, Price MA, McCarthy JB, Wood DK. In vitro elucidation of the role of pericellular matrix in metastatic extravasation and invasion of breast carcinoma cells. Integr Biol (Camb) 2018; 10:242-252. [PMID: 29623978 PMCID: PMC6556113 DOI: 10.1039/c7ib00173h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Numerous studies have demonstrated the importance of altered hyaluronan metabolism to malignant progression of multiple tumor types, including breast carcinomas. Increased hyaluronan (HA) metabolism in the stroma of primary tumors promotes activation of oncogenic signaling pathways that impact tumor initiation, growth, and invasion. Carcinoma cell synthesis and assembly of HA-rich pericellular matrices induces a stromal-independent phenotype, which is associated with cancer progression. Although the pro-tumorigenic role of stromal HA is well established, a novel but unexplored hypothesis is that carcinoma cell-associated HA pericellular matrices promote metastasis of circulating tumor cells. Here, we report the development of an in vitro assay that employs microfluidic techniques to directly measure the importance of an HA-rich pericellular matrix in the entry of carcinoma cells into ectopic sites. This model provides the capability to visualize specific steps in metastasis, which is difficult using animal models. The results show that the presence of a HA-rich pericellular matrix correlates to the invasive and metastatic potential of breast carcinoma cells. Furthermore, enzymatic removal or pharmacologic inhibition of HA synthesis significantly inhibits carcinoma cell extravasation and invasion in this model system. These results implicate pericellular HA-rich carcinoma cell associated pericellular matrices in colonization of ectopic sites by circulating tumor cells and support specific targeting of this matrix to limit metastasis in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Elena Brett
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Heather E. Bomberger
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Geneva R. Doak
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Matthew A. Price
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, USA
| | - James B. McCarthy
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, USA
| | - David K. Wood
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, USA
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8
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Abstract
Virtually all eukaryotic cells can grow in a polarized fashion in response to external signals. Cells can respond to gradients of chemoattractants or chemorepellents by directional growth, a process referred to as chemotropism. The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae undergoes chemotropic growth during mating, in which two haploid cells of opposite mating type grow towards one another. Mating pheromone gradients are essential for efficient mating in yeast and different yeast mutants are defective in chemotropism. Two methods of assessing the ability of yeast strains to respond to pheromone gradients are presented here.
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Affiliation(s)
- David E Stone
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Robert A Arkowitz
- Institute of Biology Valrose, CNRS/INSERM/Université Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Valrose Parc, 06108, Nice Cedex 2, France.
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9
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Wang X, Liu Z, Pang Y. Concentration gradient generation methods based on microfluidic systems. RSC Adv 2017. [DOI: 10.1039/c7ra04494a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Various concentration gradient generation methods based on microfluidic systems are summarized in this paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Wang
- College of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Electronics Technology
- Beijing University of Technology
- Beijing 100124
- China
| | - Zhaomiao Liu
- College of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Electronics Technology
- Beijing University of Technology
- Beijing 100124
- China
| | - Yan Pang
- College of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Electronics Technology
- Beijing University of Technology
- Beijing 100124
- China
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10
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Jo MC, Qin L. Microfluidic Platforms for Yeast-Based Aging Studies. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2016; 12:5787-5801. [PMID: 27717149 PMCID: PMC5554731 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201602006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Revised: 08/30/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been a powerful model for the study of aging and has enabled significant contributions to our understanding of basic mechanisms of aging in eukaryotic cells. However, the laborious low-throughput nature of conventional methods of performing aging assays limits the pace of discoveries in this field. Some of the technical challenges of conventional aging assay methods can be overcome by use of microfluidic systems coupled to time-lapse microscopy. One of the major advantages is the ability of a microfluidic system to perform long-term cell culture under well-defined environmental conditions while tracking individual yeast. Here, recent advancements in microfluidic platforms for various yeast-based studies including replicative lifespan assay, long-term culture and imaging, gene expression, and cell signaling are discussed. In addition, emerging problems and limitations of current microfluidic approaches are examined and perspectives on the future development of this dynamic field are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myeong Chan Jo
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Lidong Qin
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, 10065, USA
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11
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Luo X, Vo T, Jambi F, Pham P, Choy JS. Microfluidic partition with in situ biofabricated semipermeable biopolymer membranes for static gradient generation. LAB ON A CHIP 2016; 16:3815-3823. [PMID: 27713976 DOI: 10.1039/c6lc00742b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
We report an in situ biofabrication strategy that conveniently partitions microfluidic networks into physically separated while chemically communicating microchannels with semipermeable biopolymer membranes, which enable the facile generation of static gradients for biomedical applications. The biofabrication of parallel biopolymer membranes was initiated with the dissipation of trapped air bubbles in parallel apertures in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic devices, followed by tunable membrane growth with precise temporal and spatial control to the desired thickness. Static gradients were generated within minutes and well maintained over time by pure diffusion of molecules through the biofabricated semipermeable membranes. As an example application, the static gradient of alpha factor was generated to study the development of the "shmoo" morphology of yeast over time. The in situ biofabrication provides a simple approach to generate static gradients and an ideal platform for biological applications where flow-free static gradients are indispensable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Luo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. 20064, USA.
| | - Thanh Vo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. 20064, USA.
| | - Fahad Jambi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. 20064, USA.
| | - Phu Pham
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. 20064, USA.
| | - John S Choy
- Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. 20064, USA
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12
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Sharma R, Roberts E. Gradient sensing by a bistable regulatory motif enhances signal amplification but decreases accuracy in individual cells. Phys Biol 2016; 13:036003. [DOI: 10.1088/1478-3975/13/3/036003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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13
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Uzel SG, Amadi OC, Pearl TM, Lee RT, So PT, Kamm RD. Simultaneous or Sequential Orthogonal Gradient Formation in a 3D Cell Culture Microfluidic Platform. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2016; 12:612-22. [PMID: 26619365 PMCID: PMC4752442 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201501905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2015] [Revised: 09/04/2015] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Biochemical gradients are ubiquitous in biology. At the tissue level, they dictate differentiation patterning or cell migration. Recapitulating in vitro the complexity of such concentration profiles with great spatial and dynamic control is crucial in order to understand the underlying mechanisms of biological phenomena. Here, a microfluidic design capable of generating diffusion-driven, simultaneous or sequential, orthogonal linear concentration gradients in a 3D cell-embedded scaffold is described. Formation and stability of the orthogonal gradients are demonstrated by computational and fluorescent dextran-based characterizations. Then, system utility is explored in two biological systems. First, stem cells are subjected to orthogonal gradients of morphogens in order to mimic the localized differentiation of motor neurons in the neural tube. Similarly to in vivo, motor neurons preferentially differentiate in regions of high concentration of retinoic acid and smoothened agonist (acting as sonic hedgehog), in a concentration-dependent fashion. Then, a rotating gradient is applied to HT1080 cancer cells and the change in migration direction is investigated as the cells adapt to a new chemical environment. The response time of ≈4 h is reported. These two examples demonstrate the versatility of this new design that can also prove useful in many applications including tissue engineering and drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastien G.M. Uzel
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
| | - Ovid C. Amadi
- Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
| | - Taylor M. Pearl
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
| | - Richard T. Lee
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
| | - Peter T.C. So
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
| | - Roger D. Kamm
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
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14
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Wang H, Chen CH, Xiang Z, Wang M, Lee C. A convection-driven long-range linear gradient generator with dynamic control. LAB ON A CHIP 2015; 15:1445-50. [PMID: 25599134 DOI: 10.1039/c4lc01451k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
We developed a novel gradient generator to achieve long range and linear chemical gradients with a dynamic control function. The length of the gradient can be on the centimetre scale. The gradient profile can be tuned by changing the flow rates. The device can work in both high flow rate regimes with large shear stress and low flow rate regimes with minimum shear stress. The drug screening function was demonstrated by the viability test of PC-9 cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Wang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology (SINAPSE), National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576.
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15
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Wang Z, Lee I, Jeon TJ, Kim SM. Micro-/nanofluidic device for tunable generation of a concentration gradient: application to Caenorhabditis elegans chemotaxis. Anal Bioanal Chem 2014; 406:2679-86. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-014-7663-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2013] [Revised: 01/22/2014] [Accepted: 01/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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16
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Huang H, Jiang L, Li S, Deng J, Li Y, Yao J, Li B, Zheng J. Using microfluidic chip to form brain-derived neurotrophic factor concentration gradient for studying neuron axon guidance. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2014; 8:014108. [PMID: 24660043 PMCID: PMC3945791 DOI: 10.1063/1.4864235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2013] [Accepted: 01/24/2014] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Molecular gradients play a significant role in regulating biological and pathological processes. Although conventional gradient-generators have been used for studying chemotaxis and axon guidance, there are still many limitations, including the inability to maintain stable tempo-spatial gradients and the lack of the cell monitoring in a real-time manner. To overcome these shortcomings, microfluidic devices have been developed. In this study, we developed a microfluidic gradient device for regulating neuron axon guidance. A microfluidic device enables the generation of Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gradient profiles in a temporal and spatial manner. We test the effect of the gradient profiles on axon guidance, in the BDNF concentration gradient axon towards the high concentration gradient. This microfluidic gradient device could be used as a powerful tool for cell biology research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Huang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Medical Laboratory, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, 30 Gaotanyan Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Lili Jiang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Medical Laboratory, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, 30 Gaotanyan Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Shu Li
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Science, Third Military Medical University, 30 Gaotanyan Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Jun Deng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Medical Laboratory, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, 30 Gaotanyan Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Medical Laboratory, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, 30 Gaotanyan Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Jie Yao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Medical Laboratory, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, 30 Gaotanyan Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Biyuan Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Medical Laboratory, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, 30 Gaotanyan Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Junsong Zheng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Medical Laboratory, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, 30 Gaotanyan Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400038, China
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17
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Abstract
Chemical gradients are used by cells to provide positional information. Two new studies reveal that polarity proteins are highly dynamic in yeast cells responding to a pheromone gradient and suggest that this behavior is important for robust directional growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A Arkowitz
- Université Nice - Sophia Antipolis, institute of Biology Valrose, Parc Valrose, 06108 Nice, France.
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Kovarik ML, Ornoff DM, Melvin AT, Dobes NC, Wang Y, Dickinson AJ, Gach PC, Shah PK, Allbritton NL. Micro total analysis systems: fundamental advances and applications in the laboratory, clinic, and field. Anal Chem 2013; 85:451-72. [PMID: 23140554 PMCID: PMC3546124 DOI: 10.1021/ac3031543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 170] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle L. Kovarik
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Douglas M. Ornoff
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Adam T. Melvin
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Nicholas C. Dobes
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Yuli Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Alexandra J. Dickinson
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Philip C. Gach
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Pavak K. Shah
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695
| | - Nancy L. Allbritton
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695
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19
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DeFlorio R, Brett ME, Waszczak N, Apollinari E, Metodiev MV, Dubrovskyi O, Eddington D, Arkowitz RA, Stone DE. Gβ phosphorylation is critical for efficient chemotropism in yeast. J Cell Sci 2013; 126:2997-3009. [DOI: 10.1242/jcs.112797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mating yeast cells interpret complex pheromone gradients and polarize their growth in the direction of the closest partner. Chemotropic growth depends on both the pheromone receptor and its associated G-protein. Upon activation by the receptor, Gα dissociates from Gβγ and Gβ is subsequently phosphorylated. Free Gβγ signals to the nucleus via a MAPK cascade and recruits Far1-Cdc24 to the incipient growth site. It is not clear how the cell establishes and stabilizes the axis of polarity, but this process is thought to require local signal amplification via the Gβγ-Far1-Cdc24 chemotropic complex, as well as communication between this complex and the activated receptor. Here we show that a mutant form of Gβ that cannot be phosphorylated confers defects in directional sensing and chemotropic growth. Our data suggest that phosphorylation of Gβ plays a role in localized signal amplification and in the dynamic communication between the receptor and the chemotropic complex, which underlie growth site selection and maintenance.
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20
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Estes MD, Hurth C, Barrett M, Zenhausern F. A tuneable array of unique steady-state microfluidic gradients. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2013; 15:12805-14. [DOI: 10.1039/c3cp44640a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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