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Fayazbakhsh F, Hataminia F, Eslam HM, Ajoudanian M, Kharrazi S, Sharifi K, Ghanbari H. Evaluating the antioxidant potential of resveratrol-gold nanoparticles in preventing oxidative stress in endothelium on a chip. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21344. [PMID: 38049439 PMCID: PMC10696074 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47291-6] [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: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascular endothelial cells play a vital role in the health and maintenance of vascular homeostasis, but hyperglycemia disrupts their function by increasing cellular oxidative stress. Resveratrol, a plant polyphenol, possesses antioxidant properties that can mitigate oxidative stress. Addressing the challenges of its limited solubility and stability, gold nanoparticles (GNps) were utilized as carriers. A microfluidic chip (MFC) with dynamic flow conditions was designed to simulate body vessels and to investigate the antioxidant properties of resveratrol gold nanoparticles (RGNps), citrate gold nanoparticles (CGNps), and free Resveratrol on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay was employed to measure the extracellular antioxidant potential, and cell viability was determined using the Alamar Blue test. For assessing intracellular oxidative stress, the 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) assay was conducted, and results from both the cell culture plate and MFC were compared. Free Resveratrol demonstrated peak DPPH scavenging activity but had a cell viability of about 24-35%. RGNPs, both 3.0 ± 0.5 nm and 20.2 ± 4.7 nm, consistently showed high cell viability (more than about 90%) across tested concentrations. Notably, RGNPs (20 nm) exhibited antioxidative properties through DPPH scavenging activity (%) in the range of approximately 38-86% which was greater than that of CGNps at about 21-32%. In the MFC,the DCFH-DA analysis indicated that RGNPs (20 nm) reduced cellular oxidative stress by 57-82%, surpassing both CGNps and free Resveratrol. Morphologically, cells in the MFC presented superior structure compared to those in traditional cell culture plates, and the induction of hyperglycemia successfully led to the formation of multinucleated variant endothelial cells (MVECs). The MFC provides a distinct advantage in observing cell morphology and inducing endothelial cell dysfunction. RGNps have demonstrated significant potential in alleviating oxidative stress and preventing endothelial cell disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farzaneh Fayazbakhsh
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Hataminia
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Houra Mobaleghol Eslam
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ajoudanian
- Department of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sharmin Kharrazi
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kazem Sharifi
- Department of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Ghanbari
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- Research Center for Advanced Technologies in Cardiovascular Medicine, Cardiovascular Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Zhang Y, Huang L, Guo J, Ji J, Wei T, Fu L. Study on Microfluidic Chip Flow Rate Uniformity for Cell Activity Detection. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:6548-6555. [PMID: 37093638 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c00514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
During the cell viability detection process inside a microfluidic chip, the more uniform the distribution of medium flow rates, the higher the accuracy of detection results. In order to achieve this goal, a multichannel microfluidic chip with uniform distribution of medium flow rates has been successfully designed. The multichannel microfluidic chip is designed with cell injection channels, vascular network-shaped medium injection channels, buffer zones, and a culture chamber. The medium flow rates inside culture chambers of the multichannel microfluidic chip and the common single-channel microfluidic chip are compared by COMSOL Multiphysics software and particle velocimetry experiment. The simulation and experimental results show that the medium flow rate distribution inside the culture chamber of the multichannel microfluidic chip is more uniform and changes more smoothly. When the medium perfusion flow rate is 0.5 μL/min, the maximum flow rate difference inside the culture chamber of the single-channel microfluidic chip is more than 13 times that of the multichannel microfluidic chip. Therefore, the multichannel microfluidic chip can ensure a uniform supply of medium inside the culture chamber, which is beneficial to improve the accuracy of cell viability detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yecheng Zhang
- Changzhou Institute of Technology, Changzhou 213032, Jiangsu, China
| | - Linkui Huang
- Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jianjiang Guo
- Changzhou Institute of Technology, Changzhou 213032, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiao Ji
- Changzhou Institute of Technology, Changzhou 213032, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tianyu Wei
- Changzhou Institute of Technology, Changzhou 213032, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lei Fu
- Changzhou Institute of Technology, Changzhou 213032, Jiangsu, China
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Liu J, Lu R, Zheng X, Hou W, Wu X, Zhao H, Wang G, Tian T. Establishment of a gut-on-a-chip device with controllable oxygen gradients to study the contribution of Bifidobacterium bifidum to inflammatory bowel disease. Biomater Sci 2023; 11:2504-2517. [PMID: 36779280 DOI: 10.1039/d2bm01490d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Supplemental Bifidobacterium has been shown to aid in the prevention, alleviation, and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but the progression and mechanisms are largely unstudied, partly because of a lack of appropriate models. In vitro human gut models must accurately recreate oxygen concentration gradients consistent with those in vivo to mimic gene expression, metabolism, and host-microbiome interactions. A non-equipment-intensive and inexpensive method for constructing the gut-on-a-chip with physiological oxygen concentration gradients remains challenging. Here, we propose a simple strategy using numerical simulations in a dual-channel gut-on-a-chip to guide chip design and achieve controllable oxygen gradients. By varying the size of microchannels, blocking the oxygen penetration of the polydimethylsiloxane layer at a given location, and controlling the flow of hypoxic/aerobic media, this strategy creates steep gradients across the intestinal epithelium. IBD symptoms were induced on the chip by tumor necrosis factor-α and lipopolysaccharide treatment. Bifidobacterium bifidum has been validated to contribute to the stability of the intestinal epithelial barrier, including preventing epithelial barrier disruption and promoting the repair of damaged intestinal epithelial cell monolayers. These effects may be associated with the co-localization of Bifidobacterium bifidum and ZO-1. This simple but robust approach for designing microfluidic devices is applicable to various organs-on-chips in which fluid dynamics and concentration profiles between different media must be considered. With the customized chip, the integration of activated Bifidobacterium bifidum provides an initial step toward developing a multi-factorial IBD platform. The approach could be scaled up for disease modeling, high-throughput drug screening and personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China.
| | - Ronghao Lu
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China.
| | - Xiaolin Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China.
| | - Wensheng Hou
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China.
| | - Xiaoying Wu
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China.
| | - Hezhao Zhao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Guixue Wang
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China.
| | - Tian Tian
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China.
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4
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Han K, Huang Y. Microfluidic Approach for Modeling Coupled Circadian Clock. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2689:107-118. [PMID: 37430050 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3323-6_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
In mammals, it is believed that the intercellular coupling mechanism between neurons in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) confers circadian robustness and distinguishes the central clock from peripheral circadian oscillators. Current in vitro culturing methods mainly work with Petri dishes to study intercellular coupling by exogenous factors and invariably cause perturbations, such as simple exchanges of media. Here, a microfluidic device is designed to quantitatively study the intercellular coupling mechanism of circadian clock at the single-cell level and to demonstrate that the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-induced coupling in clock mutant Cry1-/- mouse adult fibroblasts (MAF), which are engineered to express the VIP receptor (i.e., VPAC2), is sufficient to synchronize, and maintain, robust circadian oscillations. This method provides a proof-of-concept strategy to reconstitute the intercellular coupling system of the central clock using uncoupled, single mouse adult fibroblast (MAF) cells in vitro and to mimic SCN slice cultures ex vivo and mouse behavior in vivo phenotypically. Such a versatile microfluidic platform may greatly facilitate the studies of intercellular regulation networks and provide new insights into the coupling mechanisms of the circadian clock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kui Han
- Changping Laboratory, Beijing, China
| | - Yanyi Huang
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC), College of Chemistry, and Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
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5
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Watson C, Liu C, Ansari A, Miranda HC, Somoza RA, Senyo SE. Multiplexed microfluidic chip for cell co-culture. Analyst 2022; 147:5409-5418. [PMID: 36300548 PMCID: PMC10077866 DOI: 10.1039/d2an01344d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Paracrine signaling is challenging to study in vitro, as conventional culture tools dilute soluble factors and offer little to no spatiotemporal control over signaling. Microfluidic chips offer potential to address both of these issues. However, few solutions offer both control over onset and duration of cell-cell communication, and high throughput. We have developed a microfluidic chip designed to culture cells in adjacent chambers, separated by valves to selectively allow or prevent exchange of paracrine signals. The chip features 16 fluidic inputs and 128 individually-addressable chambers arranged in 32 sets of 4 chambers. Media can be continuously perfused or delivered by diffusion, which we model under different culture conditions to ensure normal cell viability. Immunocytochemistry assays can be performed in the chip, which we modeled and fine-tuned to reduce total assay time to 1 h. Finally, we validate the use of the chip for co-culture studies by showing that HEK293Ta cells respond to signals secreted by RAW 264.7 immune cells in adjacent chambers, only when the valve between the chambers is opened.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig Watson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Chao Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Ali Ansari
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Helen C Miranda
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Rodrigo A Somoza
- Department of Biology, Skeletal Research Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
- CWRU Center for Multimodal Evaluation of Engineered Cartilage, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Samuel E Senyo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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Grant J, Lee E, Almeida M, Kim S, LoGrande N, Goyal G, Sesay AM, Breault DT, Prantil-Baun R, Ingber DE. Establishment of physiologically relevant oxygen gradients in microfluidic organ chips. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:1584-1593. [PMID: 35274118 PMCID: PMC9088163 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00069e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
In vitro models of human organs must accurately reconstitute oxygen concentrations and gradients that are observed in vivo to mimic gene expression, metabolism, and host-microbiome interactions. Here we describe a simple strategy to achieve physiologically relevant oxygen tension in a two-channel human small intestine-on-a-chip (Intestine Chip) lined with primary human duodenal epithelium and intestinal microvascular endothelium in parallel channels separated by a porous membrane while both channels are perfused with oxygenated medium. This strategy was developed using computer simulations that predicted lowering the oxygen permeability of poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chips in specified locations using a gas impermeable film will allow the cells to naturally decrease the oxygen concentration through aerobic respiration and reach steady-state oxygen levels <36 mm Hg (<5%) within the epithelial lumen. The approach was experimentally confirmed using chips with embedded oxygen sensors that maintained this stable oxygen gradient. Furthermore, Intestine Chips cultured with this approach supported formation of a villus epithelium interfaced with a continuous endothelium and maintained intestinal barrier integrity for 72 h. This strategy recapitulates in vivo functionality in an efficient, inexpensive, and scalable format that improves the robustness and translatability of Organ Chip technology for studies on microbiome as well as oxygen sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Grant
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Elizabeth Lee
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Micaela Almeida
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Seongmin Kim
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Nina LoGrande
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Girija Goyal
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Adama Marie Sesay
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - David T Breault
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02139, USA
| | - Rachelle Prantil-Baun
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Donald E Ingber
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Vascular Biology Program and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School and Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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7
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Luni C, Gagliano O, Elvassore N. Derivation and Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells in Microfluidic Devices. Annu Rev Biomed Eng 2022; 24:231-248. [PMID: 35378044 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-bioeng-092021-042744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
An integrative approach based on microfluidic design and stem cell biology enables capture of the spatial-temporal environmental evolution underpinning epigenetic remodeling and the morphogenetic process. We examine the body of literature that encompasses microfluidic applications where human induced pluripotent stem cells are derived starting from human somatic cells and where human pluripotent stem cells are differentiated into different cell types. We focus on recent studies where the intrinsic features of microfluidics have been exploited to control the reprogramming and differentiation trajectory at the microscale, including the capability of manipulating the fluid velocity field, mass transport regime, and controllable composition within micro- to nanoliter volumes in space and time. We also discuss studies of emerging microfluidic technologies and applications. Finally, we critically discuss perspectives and challenges in the field and how these could be instrumental for bringing about significant biological advances in the field of stem cell engineering. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering, Volume 24 is June 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Luni
- Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering (DICAM), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy;
| | - Onelia Gagliano
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Padova, Italy; , .,Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), Padova, Italy
| | - Nicola Elvassore
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Padova, Italy; , .,Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), Padova, Italy.,Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Section, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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8
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Arjmand B, Kokabi Hamidpour S, Rabbani Z, Tayanloo-Beik A, Rahim F, Aghayan HR, Larijani B. Organ on a Chip: A Novel in vitro Biomimetic Strategy in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Modeling. Front Neurol 2022; 12:788462. [PMID: 35111126 PMCID: PMC8802668 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.788462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a pernicious neurodegenerative disorder that is associated with the progressive degeneration of motor neurons, the disruption of impulse transmission from motor neurons to muscle cells, and the development of mobility impairments. Clinically, muscle paralysis can spread to other parts of the body. Hence it may have adverse effects on swallowing, speaking, and even breathing, which serves as major problems facing these patients. According to the available evidence, no definite treatment has been found for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) that results in a significant outcome, although some pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments are currently applied that are accompanied by some positive effects. In other words, available therapies are only used to relieve symptoms without any significant treatment effects that highlight the importance of seeking more novel therapies. Unfortunately, the process of discovering new drugs with high therapeutic potential for ALS treatment is fraught with challenges. The lack of a broad view of the disease process from early to late-stage and insufficiency of preclinical studies for providing validated results prior to conducting clinical trials are other reasons for the ALS drug discovery failure. However, increasing the combined application of different fields of regenerative medicine, especially tissue engineering and stem cell therapy can be considered as a step forward to develop more novel technologies. For instance, organ on a chip is one of these technologies that can provide a platform to promote a comprehensive understanding of neuromuscular junction biology and screen candidate drugs for ALS in combination with pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). The structure of this technology is based on the use of essential components such as iPSC- derived motor neurons and iPSC-derived skeletal muscle cells on a single miniaturized chip for ALS modeling. Accordingly, an organ on a chip not only can mimic ALS complexities but also can be considered as a more cost-effective and time-saving disease modeling platform in comparison with others. Hence, it can be concluded that lab on a chip can make a major contribution as a biomimetic micro-physiological system in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Babak Arjmand
- Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- *Correspondence: Babak Arjmand
| | - Shayesteh Kokabi Hamidpour
- Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Rabbani
- Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Akram Tayanloo-Beik
- Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fakher Rahim
- Health Research Institute, Thalassemia, and Hemoglobinopathies Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Hamid Reza Aghayan
- Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bagher Larijani
- Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Bagher Larijani
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Gupta P, Shinde A, Illath K, Kar S, Nagai M, Tseng FG, Santra TS. Microfluidic platforms for single neuron analysis. Mater Today Bio 2022; 13:100222. [PMID: 35243297 PMCID: PMC8866890 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2022.100222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Single-neuron actions are the basis of brain function, as clinical sequelae, neuronal dysfunction or failure for most of the central nervous system (CNS) diseases and injuries can be identified via tracing single-neurons. The bulk analysis methods tend to miscue critical information by assessing the population-averaged outcomes. However, its primary requisite in neuroscience to analyze single-neurons and to understand dynamic interplay of neurons and their environment. Microfluidic systems enable precise control over nano-to femto-liter volumes via adjusting device geometry, surface characteristics, and flow-dynamics, thus facilitating a well-defined micro-environment with spatio-temporal control for single-neuron analysis. The microfluidic platform not only offers a comprehensive landscape to study brain cell diversity at the level of transcriptome, genome, and/or epigenome of individual cells but also has a substantial role in deciphering complex dynamics of brain development and brain-related disorders. In this review, we highlight recent advances of microfluidic devices for single-neuron analysis, i.e., single-neuron trapping, single-neuron dynamics, single-neuron proteomics, single-neuron transcriptomics, drug delivery at the single-neuron level, single axon guidance, and single-neuron differentiation. Moreover, we also emphasize limitations and future challenges of single-neuron analysis by focusing on key performances of throughput and multiparametric activity analysis on microfluidic platforms.
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Kerk YJ, Jameel A, Xing X, Zhang C. Recent advances of integrated microfluidic suspension cell culture system. ENGINEERING BIOLOGY 2021; 5:103-119. [PMID: 36970555 PMCID: PMC9996741 DOI: 10.1049/enb2.12015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Microfluidic devices with superior microscale fluid manipulation ability and large integration flexibility offer great advantages of high throughput, parallelisation and multifunctional automation. Such features have been extensively utilised to facilitate cell culture processes such as cell capturing and culturing under controllable and monitored conditions for cell-based assays. Incorporating functional components and microfabricated configurations offered different levels of fluid control and cell manipulation strategies to meet diverse culture demands. This review will discuss the advances of single-phase flow and droplet-based integrated microfluidic suspension cell culture systems and their applications for accelerated bioprocess development, high-throughput cell selection, drug screening and scientific research to insight cell biology. Challenges and future prospects for this dynamically developing field are also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Jing Kerk
- Institute of Biochemical EngineeringDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Aysha Jameel
- Institute of Biochemical EngineeringDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua UniversityBeijingChina
- MOE Key Laboratory of Industrial BiocatalysisDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Xin‐Hui Xing
- Institute of Biochemical EngineeringDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua UniversityBeijingChina
- MOE Key Laboratory of Industrial BiocatalysisDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua UniversityBeijingChina
- Center for Synthetic and Systems BiologyTsinghua UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Chong Zhang
- Institute of Biochemical EngineeringDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua UniversityBeijingChina
- MOE Key Laboratory of Industrial BiocatalysisDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua UniversityBeijingChina
- Center for Synthetic and Systems BiologyTsinghua UniversityBeijingChina
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11
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Gagliano O, Luni C, Li Y, Angiolillo S, Qin W, Panariello F, Cacchiarelli D, Takahashi JS, Elvassore N. Synchronization between peripheral circadian clock and feeding-fasting cycles in microfluidic device sustains oscillatory pattern of transcriptome. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6185. [PMID: 34702819 PMCID: PMC8548598 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26294-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The circadian system cyclically regulates many physiological and behavioral processes within the day. Desynchronization between physiological and behavioral rhythms increases the risk of developing some, including metabolic, disorders. Here we investigate how the oscillatory nature of metabolic signals, resembling feeding-fasting cycles, sustains the cell-autonomous clock in peripheral tissues. By controlling the timing, period and frequency of glucose and insulin signals via microfluidics, we find a strong effect on Per2::Luc fibroblasts entrainment. We show that the circadian Per2 expression is better sustained via a 24 h period and 12 h:12 h frequency-encoded metabolic stimulation applied for 3 daily cycles, aligned to the cell-autonomous clock, entraining the expression of hundreds of genes mostly belonging to circadian rhythms and cell cycle pathways. On the contrary misaligned feeding-fasting cycles synchronize and amplify the expression of extracellular matrix-associated genes, aligned during the light phase. This study underlines the role of the synchronicity between life-style-associated metabolic signals and peripheral clocks on the circadian entrainment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onelia Gagliano
- Department of Industrial Engineering (DII), University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), Padova, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Camilla Luni
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies (SIAIS), ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering (DICAM), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Neuroscience, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Silvia Angiolillo
- Department of Industrial Engineering (DII), University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), Padova, Italy
| | - Wei Qin
- Department of Industrial Engineering (DII), University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), Padova, Italy
| | - Francesco Panariello
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Davide Cacchiarelli
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Joseph S Takahashi
- Department of Neuroscience, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
| | - Nicola Elvassore
- Department of Industrial Engineering (DII), University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
- Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), Padova, Italy.
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Section, University College London GOS Institute of Child Health, London, UK.
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12
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Tip-Viscid Electrohydrodynamic Jet 3D Printing of Composite Osteochondral Scaffold. NANOMATERIALS 2021; 11:nano11102694. [PMID: 34685135 PMCID: PMC8539201 DOI: 10.3390/nano11102694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
A novel method called tip-viscid electrohydrodynamic jet printing (TVEJ), which produces a viscous needle tip jet, was presented to fabricate a 3D composite osteochondral scaffold with controllability of fiber size and space to promote cartilage regeneration. The tip-viscid process, by harnessing the combined effects of thermal, flow, and electric fields, was first systematically investigated by simulation analysis. The influences of process parameters on printing modes and resolutions were investigated to quantitatively guide the fabrication of various structures. 3D architectures with high aspect ratio and good interlaminar bonding were printed, thanks to the stable fine jet and its predictable viscosity. 3D composite osteochondral scaffolds with controllability of architectural features were fabricated, facilitating ingrowth of cells, and eventually inducing homogeneous cell proliferation. The scaffold’s properties, which included chemical composition, wettability, and durability, were also investigated. Feasibility of the 3D scaffold for cartilage tissue regeneration was also proven by in vitro cellular activities.
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13
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Tolomeo AM, Laterza C, Grespan E, Michielin F, Canals I, Kokaia Z, Muraca M, Gagliano O, Elvassore N. NGN2 mmRNA-Based Transcriptional Programming in Microfluidic Guides hiPSCs Toward Neural Fate With Multiple Identities. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:602888. [PMID: 33679325 PMCID: PMC7928329 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.602888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advancements in cell engineering have succeeded in manipulating cell identity with the targeted overexpression of specific cell fate determining transcription factors in a process named transcriptional programming. Neurogenin2 (NGN2) is sufficient to instruct pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) to acquire a neuronal identity when delivered with an integrating system, which arises some safety concerns for clinical applications. A non-integrating system based on modified messenger RNA (mmRNA) delivery method, represents a valuable alternative to lentiviral-based approaches. The ability of NGN2 mmRNA to instruct PSC fate change has not been thoroughly investigated yet. Here we aimed at understanding whether the use of an NGN2 mmRNA-based approach combined with a miniaturized system, which allows a higher transfection efficiency in a cost-effective system, is able to drive human induced PSCs (hiPSCs) toward the neuronal lineage. We show that NGN2 mRNA alone is able to induce cell fate conversion. Surprisingly, the outcome cell population accounts for multiple phenotypes along the neural development trajectory. We found that this mixed population is mainly constituted by neural stem cells (45% ± 18 PAX6 positive cells) and neurons (38% ± 8 βIIITUBULIN positive cells) only when NGN2 is delivered as mmRNA. On the other hand, when the delivery system is lentiviral-based, both providing a constant expression of NGN2 or only a transient pulse, the outcome differentiated population is formed by a clear majority of neurons (88% ± 1 βIIITUBULIN positive cells). Altogether, our data confirm the ability of NGN2 to induce neuralization in hiPSCs and opens a new point of view in respect to the delivery system method when it comes to transcriptional programming applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Maria Tolomeo
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- L.i.f.e.L.a.b. Program, Consorzio per la Ricerca Sanitaria (CORIS), Padua, Italy
| | - Cecilia Laterza
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- L.i.f.e.L.a.b. Program, Consorzio per la Ricerca Sanitaria (CORIS), Padua, Italy
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padua, Italy
| | - Eleonora Grespan
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council, Padua, Italy
| | - Federica Michielin
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padua, Italy
| | - Isaac Canals
- Stem Cells, Aging and Neurodegeneration Group, Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Zaal Kokaia
- Laboratory of Stem Cells and Restorative Neurology, Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Maurizio Muraca
- L.i.f.e.L.a.b. Program, Consorzio per la Ricerca Sanitaria (CORIS), Padua, Italy
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Onelia Gagliano
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- L.i.f.e.L.a.b. Program, Consorzio per la Ricerca Sanitaria (CORIS), Padua, Italy
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padua, Italy
| | - Nicola Elvassore
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- L.i.f.e.L.a.b. Program, Consorzio per la Ricerca Sanitaria (CORIS), Padua, Italy
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padua, Italy
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14
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Zhang F, Zhang R, Wei M, Zhang Y. A novel method of cell culture based on the microfluidic chip for regulation of cell density. Biotechnol Bioeng 2020; 118:852-862. [PMID: 33124683 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The regulation of cell density is an important segment in microfluidic cell culture, particularly in the repeated assays. Traditionally, consistent cell density is difficult to achieve, owing to the inaccurate regulation of cell density with manual feedback. A novel cell culture method with automatic feedback is proposed for real-time regulation of cell density based on microfluidic chip in this paper. Here, an integrated microfluidic system combining cell culture, density detection, and control of proliferation rate was developed. Interdigital electrode structures were sputtered on the microchannel automatically to provide the real-time feedback information of impedance. The most sensitive frequency was studied to improve the detection resolution of the sensing chip. Cells were cultured on the chip surface and cell density was detected by monitoring the alternation of the impedance. The feedback controller was established by the least squares support vector machines. Then, the cell proliferation rate was automatically controlled using the feedback controller to achieve the desired cell density in the repeated assays. The results show that the standard error of this method is 2.8% indicating that the method can keep a consistency of cell density in the repeated assays. This study provides a basis for improving the accuracy and repeatability in the further assays of finding the optimal drug concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Zhang
- School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rongbiao Zhang
- School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mingji Wei
- School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yecheng Zhang
- School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
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15
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Konduri AK, Deepak CS, Purohit S, Narayan KS. An integrated 3D fluidic device with bubble guidance mechanism for long-term primary and secondary cell recordings on multi-electrode array platform. Biofabrication 2020; 12:045019. [PMID: 32650326 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/aba500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
A 3D fluidic device (3D-FD) is designed and developed with the capability of auto bubble guidance via a helical pathway in a 3D geometry. This assembly is integrated to a multi-electrode array (MEA) to maintain secondary cell lines, primary cells and primary retinal tissue explants of chick embryos for continuous monitoring of the growth and electrophysiology recording. The ability to maintain the retinal tissue explant, extracted from day 14 (E-14) and day 21 (E-21) chick embryos in an integrated 3D-FD MEA for long duration (>100 h) and study the development is demonstrated. The enhanced duration of monitoring offered by this device is due to the controlled laminar flow and the maintenance of a stable microenvironment. The spontaneous electrical activity of the retina, including the spike recordings from the retinal ganglion layer, was monitored over a long duration. Specifically, the spiking activity in embryonic chick retinas of different days (E-14 to 21) is studied, and the presence of light-stimulated firings along with a distinct electroretinogram for E-21 mature retina provides the evidence of a stable microenvironment over a sustained period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anil Krishna Konduri
- Chemistry and Physics of Material Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Jakkur-560064, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
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16
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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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17
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Han K, Mei L, Zhong R, Pang Y, Zhang EE, Huang Y. A microfluidic approach for experimentally modelling the intercellular coupling system of a mammalian circadian clock at single-cell level. LAB ON A CHIP 2020; 20:1204-1211. [PMID: 32149320 DOI: 10.1039/d0lc00140f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In mammals, it is believed that the intercellular coupling mechanism between neurons in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) confers robustness and distinguishes the central clock from peripheral circadian oscillators. Current in vitro culturing methods used in Petri dishes to study intercellular coupling by exogenous factors invariably cause perturbations, such as simple media changes. Here, we design a microfluidic device to quantitatively study the intercellular coupling mechanism of circadian clock at the single cell level, and demonstrate that vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) induced coupling in clock mutant Cry1-/- mouse adult fibroblasts engineered to express the VIP receptor, VPAC2, is sufficient to synchronize and maintain robust circadian oscillations. Our study provides a proof-of-concept platform to reconstitute the intercellular coupling system of the central clock using uncoupled, single fibroblast cells in vitro, to mimic SCN slice cultures ex vivo and mouse behavior in vivo phenotypically. Such a versatile microfluidic platform may greatly facilitate the studies of intercellular regulation networks, and provide new insights into the coupling mechanisms of the circadian clock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kui Han
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC), Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics (ICG), College of Engineering, College of Chemistry, and Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
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18
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Wei J, Cheng L, Li J, Liu Y, Yin S, Xu B, Wang D, Lu H, Liu C. A microfluidic platform culturing two cell lines paralleled under in-vivo like fluidic microenvironment for testing the tumor targeting of nanoparticles. Talanta 2020; 208:120355. [PMID: 31816718 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2019.120355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Revised: 09/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Nanoparticles are attractive in medicine because their surfaces can be chemically modified for targeting specific disease cells, especially for cancer. Providing an in-vivo like platform is crucial to evaluate the biological behaviours of nanoparticles. This paper presents a microfluidic device that could culture two cell lines in parallel in in-vivo like fluidic microenvironments and be used for testing the tumor targeting of folic acid - cholesterol - chitosan (FACC) nanoparticles. The uniformity and uniformity of flow fields inside the cell culture units are investigated using the finite element method and particle tracking technology. HeLa and A549 cells are cultured in the microfluidic chip under continuous media supplementation, mimicking the fluid microenvironment in vivo. Cell introducing processes are presented by the flow behaviours of inks with different colours. The two cell lines are identified by detecting folate receptors on the cellular membranes. The growth curves of the two cell lines are measured. The two cell lines cultured paralleled inside the microfluidic device are treated with FITC-FACC to investigate the targeting of FACC. The tumor targeting of FACC are also detected by in vivo imaging of HeLa cells growth in nude mice models. The results indicate that the microfluidic device could provide a dynamic, uniform and stable fluidic microenvironment to test the tumor targeting of FACC nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Wei
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Lichun Cheng
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Jingmin Li
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Yuanchang Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, NW12BX, UK
| | - Shuqing Yin
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Bing Xu
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Dan Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Huiyi Lu
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
| | - Chong Liu
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China; Key Laboratory for Precision and Non-traditional Machining Technology of Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China.
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19
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Wei M, Zhang R, Zhang F, Zhang Y, Li G, Miao R, Shao S. An Evaluation Approach of Cell Viability Based on Cell Detachment Assay in a Single-Channel Integrated Microfluidic Chip. ACS Sens 2019; 4:2654-2661. [PMID: 31502455 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.9b01061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Due to the heterogeneity of cancer cell populations, the traditional evaluation approach of cell viability based on the cell counting assay is quite inaccurate for the dose-response test of anticancer drugs, cell toxicology assays, and other biochemical stimulations. In this paper, an evaluation approach of cell viability based on the cell detachment assay in a single-channel integrated microfluidic chip is proposed to improve the accuracy of cell viability assessment. The electrodes are coated by fibronectin for specific cell adhesion, and it is biologically significant to study the cell detachment assay in vitro. The maximum number of cells that can be detected by this sensor is about 105 cells (overgrowing), while the minimum is about 100 cells. This method is calibrated with the half-maximal inhibitory concentration assay, and the results show that the cell viability calculated by adhesion strength is more accurate than that evaluated using the cell counting assay. Meanwhile, the shear rate is transformed into shear stress for the comparability among the results in other papers. The most sensitive frequency is also determined as 1 kHz according to normalized impedance. Besides, the impedance of cell adhesion affected by different shear stresses is monitored to study the optimized plan for long-term culture of cells in the integrated microfluidic chip prepared for the cell detachment assay. Adhesion strength τ25, which is the magnitude of shear stress needed to detach 75% of cell population, is introduced to describe the cell adhesion forces. It is calculated and normalized based on the cell detachment assay to evaluate cell viability. The relative errors of the cell detachment method compared with those of the cell counting method decrease by 0.637 (0% FBS), 0.586 (0.5% FBS), and 0.342 (2% FBS).
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20
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Laing AF, Tirumala V, Hegarty E, Mondal S, Zhao P, Hamilton WB, Brickman JM, Ben-Yakar A. An automated microfluidic device for time-lapse imaging of mouse embryonic stem cells. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2019; 13:054102. [PMID: 31558920 PMCID: PMC6748857 DOI: 10.1063/1.5124057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Long-term, time-lapse imaging studies of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) require a controlled and stable culturing environment for high-resolution imaging. Microfluidics is well-suited for such studies, especially when the media composition needs to be rapidly and accurately altered without disrupting the imaging. Current studies in plates, which can only add molecules at the start of an experiment without any information on the levels of endogenous signaling before the exposure, are incompatible with continuous high-resolution imaging and cell-tracking. Here, we present a custom designed, fully automated microfluidic chip to overcome these challenges. A unique feature of our chip includes three-dimensional ports that can connect completely sealed on-chip valves for fluid control to individually addressable cell culture chambers with thin glass bottoms for high-resolution imaging. We developed a robust protocol for on-chip culturing of mouse ESCs for minimum of 3 days, to carry out experiments reliably and repeatedly. The on-chip ESC growth rate was similar to that on standard culture plates with same initial cell density. We tested the chips for high-resolution, time-lapse imaging of a sensitive reporter of ESC lineage priming, Nanog-GFP, and HHex-Venus with an H2B-mCherry nuclear marker for cell-tracking. Two color imaging of cells was possible over a 24-hr period while maintaining cell viability. Importantly, changing the media did not affect our ability to track individual cells. This system now enables long-term fluorescence imaging studies in a reliable and automated manner in a fully controlled microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam F. Laing
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 204 E. Dean Keeton St., Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Venkat Tirumala
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 200 E. Dean Keeton St., Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Evan Hegarty
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 204 E. Dean Keeton St., Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Sudip Mondal
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 204 E. Dean Keeton St., Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Peisen Zhao
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 2501 Speedway, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - William B. Hamilton
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Biology—DanStem, University of Copenhagen, 3B Blegdamsvej, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Joshua M. Brickman
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Biology—DanStem, University of Copenhagen, 3B Blegdamsvej, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
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21
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Shin W, Wu A, Massidda MW, Foster C, Thomas N, Lee DW, Koh H, Ju Y, Kim J, Kim HJ. A Robust Longitudinal Co-culture of Obligate Anaerobic Gut Microbiome With Human Intestinal Epithelium in an Anoxic-Oxic Interface-on-a-Chip. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2019; 7:13. [PMID: 30792981 PMCID: PMC6374617 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2019.00013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The majority of human gut microbiome is comprised of obligate anaerobic bacteria that exert essential metabolic functions in the human colon. These anaerobic gut bacteria constantly crosstalk with the colonic epithelium in a mucosal anoxic-oxic interface (AOI). However, in vitro recreation of the metabolically mismatched colonic AOI has been technically challenging. Furthermore, stable co-culture of the obligate anaerobic commensal microbiome and epithelial cells in a mechanically dynamic condition is essential for demonstrating the host-gut microbiome crosstalk. Here, we developed an anoxic-oxic interface-on-a-chip (AOI Chip) by leveraging a modified human gut-on-a-chip to demonstrate a controlled oxygen gradient in the lumen-capillary transepithelial interface by flowing anoxic and oxic culture medium at various physiological milieus. Computational simulation and experimental results revealed that the presence of the epithelial cell layer and the flow-dependent conditioning in the lumen microchannel is necessary and sufficient to create the steady-state vertical oxygen gradient in the AOI Chip. We confirmed that the created AOI does not compromise the viability, barrier function, mucin production, and the expression and localization of tight junction proteins in the 3D intestinal epithelial layer. Two obligate anaerobic commensal gut microbiome, Bifidobacterium adolescentis and Eubacterium hallii, that exert metabolic cross-feeding in vivo, were independently co-cultured with epithelial cells in the AOI Chip for up to a week without compromising any cell viability. Our new protocol for creating an AOI in a microfluidic gut-on-a-chip may enable to demonstrate the key physiological interactions of obligate anaerobic gut microbiome with the host cells associated with intestinal metabolism, homeostasis, and immune regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woojung Shin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, United States
| | - Alexander Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, United States
| | - Miles W Massidda
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, United States
| | - Charles Foster
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, United States
| | - Newin Thomas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, United States
| | - Dong-Woo Lee
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hong Koh
- Department of Pediatrics, Severance Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Youngwon Ju
- Department of Chemistry, Research Institute for Basic Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Joohoon Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Research Institute for Basic Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.,KHU-KIST Department of Converging Science and Technology, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hyun Jung Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, United States.,Department of Medical Engineering, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
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22
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Zoso A, Zambon A, Gagliano O, Giulitti S, Prevedello L, Fadini GP, Luni C, Elvassore N. Cross-talk of healthy and impaired human tissues for dissection of disease pathogenesis. Biotechnol Prog 2018; 35:e2766. [PMID: 30548838 DOI: 10.1002/btpr.2766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2018] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Systemic diseases affect multiple tissues that interact with each other within a network difficult to explore at the body level. However, understanding the interdependences between tissues could be of high relevance for drug target identification, especially at the first stages of disease development. In vitro systems have the advantages of accessibility to measurements and precise controllability of culture conditions, but currently have limitations in mimicking human in vivo systemic tissue response. In this work, we present an in vitro model of cross-talk between an ex vivo culture of adipose tissue from an obese donor and a skeletal muscle in vitro model from a healthy donor. This is relevant to understand type 2 diabetes mellitus pathogenesis, as obesity is one of its main risk factors. The human adipose tissue biopsy was maintained as a three-dimensional culture for 48 h. Its conditioned culture medium was used to stimulate a human skeletal muscle-on-chip, developed by differentiating primary cells of a patient's biopsy under topological cues and molecular self-regulation. This system has been characterized to demonstrate its ability to mimic important features of the normal skeletal muscle response in vivo. We then found that the conditioned medium from a diseased adipose tissue is able to perturb the normal insulin sensitivity of a healthy skeletal muscle, as reported in the early stages of diabetes onset. In perspective, this work represents an important step toward the development of technological platforms that allow to study and dissect the systemic interaction between unhealthy and healthy tissues in vitro. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 35: e2766, 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Zoso
- Venetian Inst. of Molecular Medicine, Via Orus 2, Padova, 35129, Italy.,Dept. of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 9, Padova, 35131, Italy
| | - Alessandro Zambon
- Venetian Inst. of Molecular Medicine, Via Orus 2, Padova, 35129, Italy.,Dept. of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 9, Padova, 35131, Italy
| | - Onelia Gagliano
- Venetian Inst. of Molecular Medicine, Via Orus 2, Padova, 35129, Italy.,Dept. of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 9, Padova, 35131, Italy
| | - Stefano Giulitti
- Venetian Inst. of Molecular Medicine, Via Orus 2, Padova, 35129, Italy.,Dept. of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 9, Padova, 35131, Italy
| | - Luca Prevedello
- Dept. of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, 35124, Italy
| | | | - Camilla Luni
- Shanghai Inst. for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Nicola Elvassore
- Venetian Inst. of Molecular Medicine, Via Orus 2, Padova, 35129, Italy.,Dept. of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 9, Padova, 35131, Italy.,Shanghai Inst. for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China.,Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, U.K
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23
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Abstract
Microfluidics has played a vital role in developing novel methods to investigate biological phenomena at the molecular and cellular level during the last two decades. Microscale engineering of cellular systems is nevertheless a nascent field marked inherently by frequent disruptive advancements in technology such as PDMS-based soft lithography. Viable culture and manipulation of cells in microfluidic devices requires knowledge across multiple disciplines including molecular and cellular biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering. There has been numerous excellent reviews in the past 15 years on applications of microfluidics for molecular and cellular biology including microfluidic cell culture (Berthier et al., 2012; El-Ali, Sorger, & Jensen, 2006; Halldorsson et al., 2015; Kim et al., 2007; Mehling & Tay, 2014; Sackmann et al., 2014; Whitesides, 2006; Young & Beebe, 2010), cell culture models (Gupta et al., 2016; Inamdar & Borenstein, 2011; Meyvantsson & Beebe, 2008), cell secretion (Schrell et al., 2016), chemotaxis (Kim & Wu, 2012; Wu et al., 2013), neuron culture (Millet & Gillette, 2012a, 2012b), drug screening (Dittrich & Manz, 2006; Eribol, Uguz, & Ulgen, 2016; Wu, Huang, & Lee, 2010), cell sorting (Autebert et al., 2012; Bhagat et al., 2010; Gossett et al., 2010; Wyatt Shields Iv, Reyes, & López, 2015), single cell studies (Lecault et al., 2012; Reece et al., 2016; Yin & Marshall, 2012), stem cell biology (Burdick & Vunjak-Novakovic, 2009; Wu et al., 2011; Zhang & Austin, 2012), cell differentiation (Zhang et al., 2017a), systems biology (Breslauer, Lee, & Lee, 2006), 3D cell culture (Huh et al., 2011; Li et al., 2012; van Duinen et al., 2015), spheroids and organoids (Lee et al., 2016; Montanez-Sauri, Beebe, & Sung, 2015; Morimoto & Takeuchi, 2013; Skardal et al., 2016; Young, 2013), organ-on-chip (Bhatia & Ingber, 2014; Esch, Bahinski, & Huh, 2015; Huh et al., 2011; van der Meer & van den Berg, 2012), and tissue engineering (Andersson & Van Den Berg, 2004; Choi et al., 2007; Hasan et al., 2014). In this chapter, we provide an overview of PDMS-based microdevices for microfluidic cell culture. We discuss the advantages and challenges of using PDMS-based soft lithography for microfluidic cell culture and highlight recent progress and future directions in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melikhan Tanyeri
- Biomedical Engineering Program, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Savaş Tay
- Institute of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States; Institute of Genomics and Systems Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States.
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Roveimiab Z, Lin F, Anderson JE. Emerging Development of Microfluidics-Based Approaches to Improve Studies of Muscle Cell Migration. TISSUE ENGINEERING PART B-REVIEWS 2018; 25:30-45. [PMID: 30073911 DOI: 10.1089/ten.teb.2018.0181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
IMPACT STATEMENT The essential interactions between and among cells in the three types of muscle tissue in development, wound healing, and regeneration of tissues, are underpinned by the ability of cardiac, smooth, and skeletal muscle cells to migrate in maintaining functional capacity after pathologies such as myocardial infarction, tissue grafting, and traumatic and postsurgical injury. Microfluidics-based devices now offer significant enhancement over conventional approaches to studying cell chemotaxis and haptotaxis that are inherent in migration. Advances in experimental approaches to muscle cell movement and tissue formation will contribute to innovations in tissue engineering for patching wound repair and muscle tissue replacement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziba Roveimiab
- 1 Department of Biological Sciences and University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.,2 Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Francis Lin
- 1 Department of Biological Sciences and University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.,2 Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Judy E Anderson
- 1 Department of Biological Sciences and University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
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Tsai CHD, Takayama T, Shimozyo Y, Akai T, Kaneko M. Virtual vortex gear: Unique flow patterns driven by microfluidic inertia leading to pinpoint injection. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2018; 12:034114. [PMID: 29983839 PMCID: PMC6010358 DOI: 10.1063/1.5031082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
An interesting phenomenon that vortices are sequentially generated on a microfluidic chip is investigated in this paper. The direction of every two adjacent vortices is opposite to each other, like a set of gears, and thus is named virtual vortex gear (VVG). Both experiments and computational simulations were conducted in order to make clear the mechanism of VVG. The experimental results show that only the flow from a particular point would form vortices and enter the target chamber. A technique of inverse mapping is proposed based on the phenomenon and it demonstrates that only a pinpoint injection is sufficient to control the contents of a microfluidic chamber. VVG can significantly reduce the volume of chemical usage in biological research and has potential for other on-chip applications, such as mixing and valving.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Hung Dylan Tsai
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 30010, Taiwan
- Author whom correspondence should be addressed:
| | - Toshio Takayama
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yuta Shimozyo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan
| | - Takayuki Akai
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan
| | - Makoto Kaneko
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan
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Martewicz S, Gabrel G, Campesan M, Canton M, Di Lisa F, Elvassore N. Live Cell Imaging in Microfluidic Device Proves Resistance to Oxygen/Glucose Deprivation in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes. Anal Chem 2018; 90:5687-5695. [PMID: 29595056 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.7b05347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Analyses of cellular responses to fast oxygen dynamics are challenging and require ad hoc technological solutions, especially when decoupling from liquid media composition is required. In this work, we present a microfluidic device specifically designed for culture analyses with high resolution and magnification objectives, providing full optical access to the cell culture chamber. This feature allows fluorescence-based assays, photoactivated surface chemistry, and live cell imaging under tightly controlled pO2 environments. The device has a simple design, accommodates three independent cell cultures, and can be employed by users with basic cell culture training in studies requiring fast oxygen dynamics, defined media composition, and in-line data acquisition with optical molecular probes. We apply this technology to produce an oxygen/glucose deprived (OGD) environment and analyze cell mortality in murine and human cardiac cultures. Neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes show an OGD time-dependent sensitivity, resulting in a robust and reproducible 66 ± 5% death rate after 3 h of stress. Applying an equivalent stress to human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPS-CMs) provides direct experimental evidence for fetal-like OGD-resistant phenotype. Investigation on the nature of such phenotype exposed large glycogen deposits. We propose a culture strategy aimed at depleting these intracellular energy stores and concurrently activate positive regulation of aerobic metabolic molecular markers. The observed process, however, is not sufficient to induce an OGD-sensitive phenotype in hiPS-CMs, highlighting defective development of mature aerobic metabolism in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Martewicz
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies (SIAIS) , Shanghai Tech University , Shanghai , China.,Department of Industrial Engineering , University of Padova , via Marzolo 9 , 35131 Padova , Italy.,Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine , via Orus 2 , 35129 Padova , Italy
| | - Giulia Gabrel
- Department of Industrial Engineering , University of Padova , via Marzolo 9 , 35131 Padova , Italy
| | - Marika Campesan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences , University of Padova , via Bassi 58/B , 35121 Padova , Italy
| | - Marcella Canton
- Department of Biomedical Sciences , University of Padova , via Bassi 58/B , 35121 Padova , Italy
| | - Fabio Di Lisa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences , University of Padova , via Bassi 58/B , 35121 Padova , Italy
| | - Nicola Elvassore
- Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine Section , UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health , 30 Guilford Street , London WC1N 1EH , U.K.,Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies (SIAIS) , Shanghai Tech University , Shanghai , China.,Department of Industrial Engineering , University of Padova , via Marzolo 9 , 35131 Padova , Italy.,Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine , via Orus 2 , 35129 Padova , Italy
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27
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Construction of Tumor Tissue Array on An Open-Access Microfluidic Chip. CHINESE JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/s1872-2040(17)61064-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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Li J, Wei J, Liu Y, Liu B, Liu T, Jiang Y, Ding L, Liu C. A microfluidic design to provide a stable and uniform in vitro microenvironment for cell culture inspired by the redundancy characteristic of leaf areoles. LAB ON A CHIP 2017; 17:3921-3933. [PMID: 29063079 DOI: 10.1039/c7lc00343a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The leaf venation is considered to be an optimal transportation system with the mesophyll cells being divided by minor veins into small regions named areoles. The transpiration of water in different regions of a leaf fluctuates over time making the transportation of water in veins fluctuate as well. However, because of the existence of multiple paths provided by the leaf venation network and the pits on the walls of the vessels, the pressure field and nutrient concentration in the areoles that the mesophyll cells live in are almost uniform. Therefore, inspired by such structures, a microfluidic design of a novel cell culture chamber has been proposed to obtain a stable and uniform microenvironment. The device consists of a novel microchannel system imitating the vessels in the leaf venation to transport the culture medium, a cell culture chamber imitating the areole and microgaps imitating the pits. The effects of the areole and pit on flow fields in the cell culture chamber have been discussed. The results indicate that the bio-inspired microfluidic device is a robust platform to provide an in vivo like fluidic microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingmin Li
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116023, P. R. China.
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Lin D, Li P, Lin J, Shu B, Wang W, Zhang Q, Yang N, Liu D, Xu B. Orthogonal Screening of Anticancer Drugs Using an Open-Access Microfluidic Tissue Array System. Anal Chem 2017; 89:11976-11984. [PMID: 29053257 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.7b02021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Screening for potential drug combinations presents significant challenges to the current microfluidic cell culture systems, due to the requirement of flexibility in liquid handling. To overcome this limitation, we present here an open-access microfluidic tissue array system specifically designed for drug combination screening. The microfluidic chip features a key structure in which a nanoporous membrane is sandwiched by a cell culture chamber array layer and a corresponding media reservoir array layer. The microfluidic approach takes advantage of the characteristics of the nanoporous membrane: on one side, this membrane permits the flow of air but not liquid, thus acting as a flow-stop valve to enable automatic cell distribution; on the other side, it allows diffusion-based media exchange and thus mimics the endothelial layer. In synergy with a liquid-transferring platform, the open-access microfluidic system enables complex multistep operations involving long-term cell culture, medium exchange, multistep drug treatment, and cell-viability testing. By using the microfluidic protocol, a 10 × 10 tissue array was constructed in 90 s, followed by schedule-dependent drug testing. Morphological and immunohistochemical assays indicated that the resultant tumor tissue was faithful to that in vivo. Drug-testing assays showed that the incorporation of the nanoporous membrane further decreased killing efficacy of the anticancer agents, indicating its function as an endothelial layer. Robustness of the microfluidic system was demonstrated by implementing a three-factor, three-level orthogonal screening of anticancer drug combinations, with which 67% of the testing (9 vs. 27) was saved. Experimental results demonstrated that the microfluidic tissue system presented herein is flexible and easy-to-use, thus providing an ideal tool for performing complex multistep cell assays with high efficiencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongguo Lin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University , Guangzhou 510180, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of South China University of Technology , Guangzhou 510180, China.,Clinical Molecular Medicine and Molecular Diagnosis Key Laboratory of Guangdong Province , Guangzhou 510180, China
| | - Peiwen Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University , Guangzhou 510180, China
| | - Jinqiong Lin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University , Guangzhou 510180, China
| | - Bowen Shu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University , Guangzhou 510180, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of South China University of Technology , Guangzhou 510180, China.,Clinical Molecular Medicine and Molecular Diagnosis Key Laboratory of Guangdong Province , Guangzhou 510180, China
| | - Weixin Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University , Guangzhou 510180, China
| | - Qiong Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University , Guangzhou 510180, China
| | - Na Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University , Guangzhou 510180, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of South China University of Technology , Guangzhou 510180, China.,Clinical Molecular Medicine and Molecular Diagnosis Key Laboratory of Guangdong Province , Guangzhou 510180, China
| | - Dayu Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University , Guangzhou 510180, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of South China University of Technology , Guangzhou 510180, China.,Clinical Molecular Medicine and Molecular Diagnosis Key Laboratory of Guangdong Province , Guangzhou 510180, China
| | - Banglao Xu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University , Guangzhou 510180, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of South China University of Technology , Guangzhou 510180, China.,Clinical Molecular Medicine and Molecular Diagnosis Key Laboratory of Guangdong Province , Guangzhou 510180, China
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Lee-Montiel FT, George SM, Gough AH, Sharma AD, Wu J, DeBiasio R, Vernetti LA, Taylor DL. Control of oxygen tension recapitulates zone-specific functions in human liver microphysiology systems. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2017; 242:1617-1632. [PMID: 28409533 PMCID: PMC5661766 DOI: 10.1177/1535370217703978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
This article describes our next generation human Liver Acinus MicroPhysiology System (LAMPS). The key demonstration of this study was that Zone 1 and Zone 3 microenvironments can be established by controlling the oxygen tension in individual devices over the range of ca. 3 to 13%. The oxygen tension was computationally modeled using input on the microfluidic device dimensions, numbers of cells, oxygen consumption rates of hepatocytes, the diffusion coefficients of oxygen in different materials and the flow rate of media in the MicroPhysiology System (MPS). In addition, the oxygen tension was measured using a ratiometric imaging method with the oxygen sensitive dye, Tris(2,2'-bipyridyl) dichlororuthenium(II) hexahydrate (RTDP) and the oxygen insensitive dye, Alexa 488. The Zone 1 biased functions of oxidative phosphorylation, albumin and urea secretion and Zone 3 biased functions of glycolysis, α1AT secretion, Cyp2E1 expression and acetaminophen toxicity were demonstrated in the respective Zone 1 and Zone 3 MicroPhysiology System. Further improvements in the Liver Acinus MicroPhysiology System included improved performance of selected nonparenchymal cells, the inclusion of a porcine liver extracellular matrix to model the Space of Disse, as well as an improved media to support both hepatocytes and non-parenchymal cells. In its current form, the Liver Acinus MicroPhysiology System is most amenable to low to medium throughput, acute through chronic studies, including liver disease models, prioritizing compounds for preclinical studies, optimizing chemistry in structure activity relationship (SAR) projects, as well as in rising dose studies for initial dose ranging. Impact statement Oxygen zonation is a critical aspect of liver functions. A human microphysiology system is needed to investigate the impact of zonation on a wide range of liver functions that can be experimentally manipulated. Because oxygen zonation has such diverse physiological effects in the liver, we developed and present a method for computationally modeling and measuring oxygen that can easily be implemented in all MPS models. We have applied this method in a liver MPS in which we are then able to control oxygenation in separate devices and demonstrate that zonation-dependent hepatocyte functions in the MPS recapitulate what is known about in vivo liver physiology. We believe that this advance allows a deep experimental investigation on the role of zonation in liver metabolism and disease. In addition, modeling and measuring oxygen tension will be required as investigators migrate from PDMS to plastic and glass devices.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Subin M George
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260,USA
| | - Albert H Gough
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260,USA
| | - Anup D Sharma
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260,USA
| | - Juanfang Wu
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Richard DeBiasio
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Lawrence A Vernetti
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260,USA
| | - D Lansing Taylor
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260,USA
- Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
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Naskar S, Kumaran V, Basu B. On The Origin of Shear Stress Induced Myogenesis Using PMMA Based Lab-on-Chip. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2017; 3:1154-1171. [PMID: 33429590 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.7b00206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
One of the central themes in cell and tissue engineering is to develop an understanding as to how biophysical cues can influence cell functionality changes. The flow induced shear stress is regarded as one such biophysical cue to influence physiological changes in shear-sensitive tissues, in vivo. The origin of such phenomena is, however, poorly understood. While addressing such an issue, the present work demonstrates the intriguing synergistic effect of shear stress and spatial constraints in inducing aligned growth and differentiation of myoblast cells to myotubes. In a planned set of in vitro experiments, the regulation of laminar flow regime within a narrow window was obtained in a PMMA-based Lab-on-Chip (LOC) device, wherein the murine muscle cells (C2C12), chosen for their phenotypical differentiation stages, were cultured under graded shear conditions. The two factors of shear stress and spatial allowance were decoupled by another two sets of experiments. This aspect has been conclusively established using a PMMA device having a fixed width microchannel with varying shear and an identical amount of shear with different width of channels. On the basis of the extensive analysis of biochemical assays (WST-1, picogreen) together with gene expression using qRT-PCR and cell morphological changes (fluorescence/confocal microscopy), extensive differentiation of the myoblasts into myotubes is found to be dependent on both shear stress and spatial allocation with a maximum at an optimal shear of ca. 16 mPa. Quantitatively, the mRNA expression of myogenic biomarkers, i.e., myogenin, MyoD, and neogenin, exhibited 10- to 50-fold changes at ca. 16 mPa shear flow, compared to that under static conditions. Also, myotube aspect ratio and myotube density are modulated with shear stress and are in commensurate with gene expression changes. The flow cytometry analysis further confirmed that the cell cycle arrest at the G1/G0 phase triggers the onset of myogenesis. Taken together, the present study unambiguously establishes qualitative and quantitative biophysical basis for the origin of myogenesis toward the critical shear stress of murine myoblasts in a microfludic device, in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharmistha Naskar
- Centre for Biosystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-560012, India
| | - V Kumaran
- Centre for Biosystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-560012, India.,Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-560012, India
| | - Bikramjit Basu
- Centre for Biosystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-560012, India.,Laboratory for Biomaterials, Materials Research Center, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-560012, India
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Abstract
A great breadth of questions remains in cellular biology. Some questions cannot be answered using traditional analytical techniques and so demand the development of new tools for research. In the near future, the development of highly integrated microfluidic analytical platforms will enable the acquisition of unknown biological data. These microfluidic systems must allow cell culture under controlled microenvironment and high throughput analysis. For this purpose, the integration of a variable number of newly developed micro- and nano-technologies, which enable control of topography and surface chemistry, soluble factors, mechanical forces and cell–cell contacts, as well as technology for monitoring cell phenotype and genotype with high spatial and temporal resolution will be necessary. These multifunctional devices must be accompanied by appropriate data analysis and management of the expected large datasets generated. The knowledge gained with these platforms has the potential to improve predictive models of the behavior of cells, impacting directly in better therapies for disease treatment. In this review, we give an overview of the microtechnology toolbox available for the design of high throughput microfluidic platforms for cell analysis. We discuss current microtechnologies for cell microenvironment control, different methodologies to create large arrays of cellular systems and finally techniques for monitoring cells in microfluidic devices.
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On the adhesion-cohesion balance and oxygen consumption characteristics of liver organoids. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0173206. [PMID: 28267799 PMCID: PMC5340403 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0173206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2016] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver organoids (LOs) are of interest in tissue replacement, hepatotoxicity and pathophysiological studies. However, it is still unclear what triggers LO self-assembly and what the optimal environment is for their culture. Hypothesizing that LO formation occurs as a result of a fine balance between cell-substrate adhesion and cell-cell cohesion, we used 3 cell types (hepatocytes, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and mesenchymal stem cells) to investigate LO self-assembly on different substrates keeping the culture parameters (e.g. culture media, cell types/number) and substrate stiffness constant. As cellular spheroids may suffer from oxygen depletion in the core, we also sought to identify the optimal culture conditions for LOs in order to guarantee an adequate supply of oxygen during proliferation and differentiation. The oxygen consumption characteristics of LOs were measured using an O2 sensor and used to model the O2 concentration gradient in the organoids. We show that no LO formation occurs on highly adhesive hepatic extra-cellular matrix-based substrates, suggesting that cellular aggregation requires an optimal trade-off between the adhesiveness of a substrate and the cohesive forces between cells and that this balance is modulated by substrate mechanics. Thus, in addition to substrate stiffness, physicochemical properties, which are also critical for cell adhesion, play a role in LO self-assembly.
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Kamei KI, Koyama Y, Tokunaga Y, Mashimo Y, Yoshioka M, Fockenberg C, Mosbergen R, Korn O, Wells C, Chen Y. Characterization of Phenotypic and Transcriptional Differences in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells under 2D and 3D Culture Conditions. Adv Healthc Mater 2016; 5:2951-2958. [PMID: 27775225 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201600893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cells hold great promise for applications in drug discovery and regenerative medicine. Microfluidic technology is a promising approach for creating artificial microenvironments; however, although a proper 3D microenvironment is required to achieve robust control of cellular phenotypes, most current microfluidic devices provide only 2D cell culture and do not allow tuning of physical and chemical environmental cues simultaneously. Here, the authors report a 3D cellular microenvironment plate (3D-CEP), which consists of a microfluidic device filled with thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-β-poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogel (HG), which enables systematic tuning of both chemical and physical environmental cues as well as in situ cell monitoring. The authors show that H9 human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and 253G1 human induced pluripotent stem cells in the HG/3D-CEP system maintain their pluripotent marker expression under HG/3D-CEP self-renewing conditions. Additionally, global gene expression analyses are used to elucidate small variations among different test environments. Interestingly, the authors find that treatment of H9 hESCs under HG/3D-CEP self-renewing conditions results in initiation of entry into the neural differentiation process by induction of PAX3 and OTX1 expression. The authors believe that this HG/3D-CEP system will serve as a versatile platform for developing targeted functional cell lines and facilitate advances in drug screening and regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken-ichiro Kamei
- Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS); Kyoto University; Kyoto 6068501 Japan
| | - Yoshie Koyama
- Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS); Kyoto University; Kyoto 6068501 Japan
| | - Yumie Tokunaga
- Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS); Kyoto University; Kyoto 6068501 Japan
| | - Yasumasa Mashimo
- Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS); Kyoto University; Kyoto 6068501 Japan
| | - Momoko Yoshioka
- Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS); Kyoto University; Kyoto 6068501 Japan
| | - Christopher Fockenberg
- Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS); Kyoto University; Kyoto 6068501 Japan
| | - Rowland Mosbergen
- Australia Institute for Biotechnology and Nanotechnology (AIBN); University of Queensland; Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience; University of Melbourne; Melbourne Vic 3010 Australia
| | - Othmar Korn
- Australia Institute for Biotechnology and Nanotechnology (AIBN); University of Queensland; Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Christine Wells
- Australia Institute for Biotechnology and Nanotechnology (AIBN); University of Queensland; Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience; University of Melbourne; Melbourne Vic 3010 Australia
| | - Yong Chen
- Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS); Kyoto University; Kyoto 6068501 Japan
- Ecole Normale Supérieure; CNRS-ENS-UPMC UMR 8640; 24 Rue L'homond Paris 75005 France
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35
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High-efficiency cellular reprogramming with microfluidics. Nat Methods 2016; 13:446-52. [DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.3832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2015] [Accepted: 03/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Abstract
The advancement of tissue and, ultimately, organ engineering requires the ability to pattern human tissues composed of cells, extracellular matrix, and vasculature with controlled microenvironments that can be sustained over prolonged time periods. To date, bioprinting methods have yielded thin tissues that only survive for short durations. To improve their physiological relevance, we report a method for bioprinting 3D cell-laden, vascularized tissues that exceed 1 cm in thickness and can be perfused on chip for long time periods (>6 wk). Specifically, we integrate parenchyma, stroma, and endothelium into a single thick tissue by coprinting multiple inks composed of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and human neonatal dermal fibroblasts (hNDFs) within a customized extracellular matrix alongside embedded vasculature, which is subsequently lined with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). These thick vascularized tissues are actively perfused with growth factors to differentiate hMSCs toward an osteogenic lineage in situ. This longitudinal study of emergent biological phenomena in complex microenvironments represents a foundational step in human tissue generation.
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Li R, Lv X, Zhang X, Saeed O, Deng Y. Microfluidics for cell-cell interactions: A review. Front Chem Sci Eng 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s11705-015-1550-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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Sticker D, Rothbauer M, Lechner S, Hehenberger MT, Ertl P. Multi-layered, membrane-integrated microfluidics based on replica molding of a thiol-ene epoxy thermoset for organ-on-a-chip applications. LAB ON A CHIP 2015; 15:4542-54. [PMID: 26524977 DOI: 10.1039/c5lc01028d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
In this study we have investigated a photosensitive thermoset (OSTEMER 322-40) as a complementary material to readily fabricate complex multi-layered microdevices for applications in life science. Simple, versatile and robust fabrication of multifunctional microfluidics is becoming increasingly important for the development of customized tissue-, organ- and body-on-a-chip systems capable of mimicking tissue interfaces and biological barriers. In the present work key material properties including optical properties, vapor permeability, hydrophilicity and biocompatibility are evaluated for cell-based assays using fibroblasts, endothelial cells and mesenchymal stem cells. The excellent bonding strength of the OSTEMER thermoset to flexible fluoropolymer (FEP) sheets and poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) membranes further allows for the fabrication of integrated microfluidic components such as membrane-based microdegassers, microvalves and micropumps. We demonstrate the application of multi-layered, membrane-integrated microdevices that consist of up to seven layers and three membranes that specially confine and separate vascular cells from the epithelial barrier and 3D tissue structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drago Sticker
- BioSensor Technologies, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Muthgasse 11, 1190 Vienna, Austria.
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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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40
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Recent advances and future applications of microfluidic live-cell microarrays. Biotechnol Adv 2015; 33:948-61. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2015.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2015] [Revised: 06/16/2015] [Accepted: 06/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Kurth F, Franco-Obregón A, Bärtschi CA, Dittrich PS. An adaptable stage perfusion incubator for the controlled cultivation of C2C12 myoblasts. Analyst 2015; 140:127-33. [PMID: 25368875 DOI: 10.1039/c4an01758g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Here we present a stage perfusion incubation system that allows for the cultivation of mammalian cells within PDMS microfluidic devices for long-term microscopic examination and analysis. The custom-built stage perfusion incubator is adaptable to any x-y microscope stage and is enabled for temperature, gas and humidity control as well as equipped with chip and tubing holder. The applied double-layered microfluidic chip allows the predetermined positioning and concentration of cells while the gas permeable PDMS material facilitates pH control via CO2 levels throughout the chip. We demonstrate the functionality of this system by culturing C2C12 murine myoblasts in buffer free medium within its confines for up to 26 hours. We moreover demonstrated the system's compatibility with various chip configurations, other cells lines (HEK-293 cells) and for longer-term culturing. The cost-efficient system are applicable for any type of PDMS-based cell culture system. Detailed technical drawings and specification to reproduce this perfusion incubation system is provided in the ESI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Kurth
- ETH Zurich, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
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Saalfrank D, Konduri AK, Latifi S, Habibey R, Golabchi A, Martiniuc AV, Knoll A, Ingebrandt S, Blau A. Incubator-independent cell-culture perfusion platform for continuous long-term microelectrode array electrophysiology and time-lapse imaging. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2015; 2:150031. [PMID: 26543581 PMCID: PMC4632545 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.150031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2015] [Accepted: 05/19/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Most in vitro electrophysiology studies extract information and draw conclusions from representative, temporally limited snapshot experiments. This approach bears the risk of missing decisive moments that may make a difference in our understanding of physiological events. This feasibility study presents a simple benchtop cell-culture perfusion system adapted to commercial microelectrode arrays (MEAs), multichannel electrophysiology equipment and common inverted microscopy stages for simultaneous and uninterrupted extracellular electrophysiology and time-lapse imaging at ambient CO2 levels. The concept relies on a transparent, replica-casted polydimethylsiloxane perfusion cap, gravity- or syringe-pump-driven perfusion and preconditioning of pH-buffered serum-free cell-culture medium to ambient CO2 levels at physiological temperatures. The low-cost microfluidic in vitro enabling platform, which allows us to image cultures immediately after cell plating, is easy to reproduce and is adaptable to the geometries of different cell-culture containers. It permits the continuous and simultaneous multimodal long-term acquisition or manipulation of optical and electrophysiological parameter sets, thereby considerably widening the range of experimental possibilities. Two exemplary proof-of-concept long-term MEA studies on hippocampal networks illustrate system performance. Continuous extracellular recordings over a period of up to 70 days revealed details on both sudden and gradual neural activity changes in maturing cell ensembles with large intra-day fluctuations. Correlated time-lapse imaging unveiled rather static macroscopic network architectures with previously unreported local morphological oscillations on the timescale of minutes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Saalfrank
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies (NBT), Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), via Morego 30, Genoa 16163, Italy
- Department of Informatics and Microsystem Technology, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Amerikastraße 1, Zweibrücken 66482, Germany
| | - Anil Krishna Konduri
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies (NBT), Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), via Morego 30, Genoa 16163, Italy
| | - Shahrzad Latifi
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies (NBT), Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), via Morego 30, Genoa 16163, Italy
| | - Rouhollah Habibey
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies (NBT), Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), via Morego 30, Genoa 16163, Italy
| | - Asiyeh Golabchi
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies (NBT), Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), via Morego 30, Genoa 16163, Italy
| | - Aurel Vasile Martiniuc
- Computer Science Department VI, Technical University Munich (TUM), Boltzmannstraße 3, Garching 85748, Germany
| | - Alois Knoll
- Computer Science Department VI, Technical University Munich (TUM), Boltzmannstraße 3, Garching 85748, Germany
| | - Sven Ingebrandt
- Department of Informatics and Microsystem Technology, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Amerikastraße 1, Zweibrücken 66482, Germany
| | - Axel Blau
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies (NBT), Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), via Morego 30, Genoa 16163, Italy
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Abbott RD, Kaplan DL. Strategies for improving the physiological relevance of human engineered tissues. Trends Biotechnol 2015; 33:401-7. [PMID: 25937289 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2015.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2014] [Revised: 04/07/2015] [Accepted: 04/08/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
This review examines important robust methods for sustained, steady-state, in vitro culture. To achieve 'physiologically relevant' tissues in vitro additional complexity must be introduced to provide suitable transport, cell signaling, and matrix support for cells in 3D environments to achieve stable readouts of tissue function. Most tissue engineering systems draw conclusions on tissue functions such as responses to toxins, nutrition, or drugs based on short-term outcomes with in vitro cultures (2-14 days). However, short-term cultures limit insight with physiological relevance because the cells and tissues have not reached a steady-state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalyn D Abbott
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Technology Center, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - David L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Technology Center, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, MA 02155, USA.
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44
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Design Criteria for Generating Physiologically Relevant In Vitro Models in Bioreactors. Processes (Basel) 2014. [DOI: 10.3390/pr2030548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
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Halldorsson S, Lucumi E, Gómez-Sjöberg R, Fleming RMT. Advantages and challenges of microfluidic cell culture in polydimethylsiloxane devices. Biosens Bioelectron 2014; 63:218-231. [PMID: 25105943 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2014.07.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 572] [Impact Index Per Article: 57.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2014] [Revised: 07/03/2014] [Accepted: 07/12/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Culture of cells using various microfluidic devices is becoming more common within experimental cell biology. At the same time, a technological radiation of microfluidic cell culture device designs is currently in progress. Ultimately, the utility of microfluidic cell culture will be determined by its capacity to permit new insights into cellular function. Especially insights that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to obtain with macroscopic cell culture in traditional polystyrene dishes, flasks or well-plates. Many decades of heuristic optimization have gone into perfecting conventional cell culture devices and protocols. In comparison, even for the most commonly used microfluidic cell culture devices, such as those fabricated from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), collective understanding of the differences in cellular behavior between microfluidic and macroscopic culture is still developing. Moving in vitro culture from macroscopic culture to PDMS based devices can come with unforeseen challenges. Changes in device material, surface coating, cell number per unit surface area or per unit media volume may all affect the outcome of otherwise standard protocols. In this review, we outline some of the advantages and challenges that may accompany a transition from macroscopic to microfluidic cell culture. We focus on decisive factors that distinguish macroscopic from microfluidic cell culture to encourage a reconsideration of how macroscopic cell culture principles might apply to microfluidic cell culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Skarphedinn Halldorsson
- Center for Systems Biology and Biomedical Center, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 8, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Edinson Lucumi
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, 7 avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Rafael Gómez-Sjöberg
- Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, United States of America
| | - Ronan M T Fleming
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, 7 avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
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46
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Jaccard N, Macown RJ, Super A, Griffin LD, Veraitch FS, Szita N. Automated and online characterization of adherent cell culture growth in a microfabricated bioreactor. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 19:437-43. [PMID: 24692228 PMCID: PMC4230958 DOI: 10.1177/2211068214529288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Adherent cell lines are widely used across all fields of biology, including drug discovery, toxicity studies, and regenerative medicine. However, adherent cell processes are often limited by a lack of advances in cell culture systems. While suspension culture processes benefit from decades of development of instrumented bioreactors, adherent cultures are typically performed in static, noninstrumented flasks and well-plates. We previously described a microfabricated bioreactor that enables a high degree of control on the microenvironment of the cells while remaining compatible with standard cell culture protocols. In this report, we describe its integration with automated image-processing capabilities, allowing the continuous monitoring of key cell culture characteristics. A machine learning–based algorithm enabled the specific detection of one cell type within a co-culture setting, such as human embryonic stem cells against the background of fibroblast cells. In addition, the algorithm did not confuse image artifacts resulting from microfabrication, such as scratches on surfaces, or dust particles, with cellular features. We demonstrate how the automation of flow control, environmental control, and image acquisition can be employed to image the whole culture area and obtain time-course data of mouse embryonic stem cell cultures, for example, for confluency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Jaccard
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, London, UK Centre for Mathematics and Physics in the Life Sciences and Experimental Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Rhys J Macown
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - Alexandre Super
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - Lewis D Griffin
- Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Farlan S Veraitch
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - Nicolas Szita
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
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47
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Long Q, Liu X, Yang Y, Li L, Harvey L, McNeil B, Bai Z. The development and application of high throughput cultivation technology in bioprocess development. J Biotechnol 2014; 192 Pt B:323-38. [PMID: 24698846 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2014.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2013] [Revised: 03/18/2014] [Accepted: 03/24/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
This review focuses on recent progress in the technology of high throughput (HTP) cultivation and its increasing application in quality by design (QbD) -driven bioprocess development. Several practical HTP strategies aimed at shortening process development (PD) timelines from DNA to large scale processes involving commercially available HTP technology platforms, including microtiter plate (MTP) culture, micro-scale bioreactors, and in parallel fermentation systems, etc., are critically reviewed in detail. This discussion focuses upon the relative strengths and weaknesses or limitations of each of these platforms in this context. Emerging prototypes of micro-bioreactors reported recently, such as milliliter (mL) scale stirred tank bioreactors, and microfludics integrated micro-scale bioreactors, and their potential for practical application in QbD-driven HTP process development are also critically appraised. The overall aim of such technology is to rapidly gain process insights, and since the analytical technology deployed in HTP systems is critically important to the achievement of this aim, this rapidly developing area is discussed. Finally, general future trends are critically reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quan Long
- Jiangnan University, Jiangsu, Wuxi, 214122, PR China
| | - Xiuxia Liu
- Jiangnan University, Jiangsu, Wuxi, 214122, PR China
| | - Yankun Yang
- Jiangnan University, Jiangsu, Wuxi, 214122, PR China
| | - Lu Li
- Jiangnan University, Jiangsu, Wuxi, 214122, PR China
| | | | | | - Zhonghu Bai
- Jiangnan University, Jiangsu, Wuxi, 214122, PR China.
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48
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Lü D, Luo C, Zhang C, Li Z, Long M. Differential regulation of morphology and stemness of mouse embryonic stem cells by substrate stiffness and topography. Biomaterials 2014; 35:3945-55. [PMID: 24529627 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2014.01.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2013] [Accepted: 01/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The maintenance of stem cell pluripotency or stemness is crucial to embryonic development and differentiation. The mechanical or physical microenvironment of stem cells, which includes extracellular matrix stiffness and topography, regulates cell morphology and stemness. Although a growing body of evidence has shown the importance of these factors in stem cell differentiation, the impact of these biophysical or biomechanical regulators remains insufficiently characterized. In the present study, we applied a micro-fabricated polyacrylamide hydrogel substrate with two elasticities and three topographies to systematically test the morphology, proliferation, and stemness of mESCs. The independent or combined impact of the two factors on specific cell functions was analyzed. Cells are able to grow effectively on both polystyrene and polyacrylamide substrates in the absence of feeder cells. Substrate stiffness is predominant in preserving stemness by enhancing Oct-4 and Nanog expression on a soft polyacrylamide substrate. Topography is also a critical factor for manipulating stemness via the formation of a relatively flattened colony on a groove or pillar substrate and a spheroid colony on a hexagonal substrate. Although topography is less effective on soft substrates, it plays a role in retaining cell stemness on stiff, hexagonal or pillar-shaped substrates. mESCs also form, in a timely manner, a 3D structure on groove or hexagonal substrates. These results further the understanding of stem cell morphology and stemness in a microenvironment that mimics physiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongyuan Lü
- Center of Biomechanics and Bioengineering and Key Laboratory of Microgravity (National Microgravity Laboratory), Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Chunhua Luo
- Center of Biomechanics and Bioengineering and Key Laboratory of Microgravity (National Microgravity Laboratory), Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- Center of Biomechanics and Bioengineering and Key Laboratory of Microgravity (National Microgravity Laboratory), Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Zhan Li
- Center of Biomechanics and Bioengineering and Key Laboratory of Microgravity (National Microgravity Laboratory), Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Mian Long
- Center of Biomechanics and Bioengineering and Key Laboratory of Microgravity (National Microgravity Laboratory), Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
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Chan CY, Huang PH, Guo F, Ding X, Kapur V, Mai JD, Yuen PK, Huang TJ. Accelerating drug discovery via organs-on-chips. LAB ON A CHIP 2013; 13:4697-710. [PMID: 24193241 PMCID: PMC3998760 DOI: 10.1039/c3lc90115g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Considerable advances have been made in the development of micro-physiological systems that seek to faithfully replicate the complexity and functionality of animal and human physiology in research laboratories. Sometimes referred to as "organs-on-chips", these systems provide key insights into physiological or pathological processes associated with health maintenance and disease control, and serve as powerful platforms for new drug development and toxicity screening. In this Focus article, we review the state-of-the-art designs and examples for developing multiple "organs-on-chips", and discuss the potential of this emerging technology to enhance our understanding of human physiology, and to transform and accelerate the drug discovery and preclinical testing process. This Focus article highlights some of the recent technological advances in this field, along with the challenges that must be addressed for these technologies to fully realize their potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chung Yu Chan
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. ; Fax: +1 814-865-9974; Tel: +1 814-863-4209
| | - Po-Hsun Huang
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. ; Fax: +1 814-865-9974; Tel: +1 814-863-4209
| | - Feng Guo
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. ; Fax: +1 814-865-9974; Tel: +1 814-863-4209
| | - Xiaoyun Ding
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. ; Fax: +1 814-865-9974; Tel: +1 814-863-4209
| | - Vivek Kapur
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - John D. Mai
- Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Po Ki Yuen
- Science & Technology, Corning Incorporated, Corning, New York, 14831-0001, USA. ; Fax: +1 607-974-5957; Tel: +1 607- 974-9680
| | - Tony Jun Huang
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. ; Fax: +1 814-865-9974; Tel: +1 814-863-4209
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50
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Banerjee P, Kintzios S, Prabhakarpandian B. Biotoxin detection using cell-based sensors. Toxins (Basel) 2013; 5:2366-83. [PMID: 24335754 PMCID: PMC3873691 DOI: 10.3390/toxins5122366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2013] [Revised: 11/22/2013] [Accepted: 11/25/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-based biosensors (CBBs) utilize the principles of cell-based assays (CBAs) by employing living cells for detection of different analytes from environment, food, clinical, or other sources. For toxin detection, CBBs are emerging as unique alternatives to other analytical methods. The main advantage of using CBBs for probing biotoxins and toxic agents is that CBBs respond to the toxic exposures in the manner related to actual physiologic responses of the vulnerable subjects. The results obtained from CBBs are based on the toxin-cell interactions, and therefore, reveal functional information (such as mode of action, toxic potency, bioavailability, target tissue or organ, etc.) about the toxin. CBBs incorporate both prokaryotic (bacteria) and eukaryotic (yeast, invertebrate and vertebrate) cells. To create CBB devices, living cells are directly integrated onto the biosensor platform. The sensors report the cellular responses upon exposures to toxins and the resulting cellular signals are transduced by secondary transducers generating optical or electrical signals outputs followed by appropriate read-outs. Examples of the layout and operation of cellular biosensors for detection of selected biotoxins are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratik Banerjee
- Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, The University of Memphis, 338 Robison Hall, 3825 Desoto Avenue, Memphis, TN 38152, USA
| | - Spyridon Kintzios
- School of Food Science, Biotechnology and Development, Faculty of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, Athens 11855, Greece; E-Mail:
| | - Balabhaskar Prabhakarpandian
- Bioengineering Laboratory Core, Cellular and Biomolecular Engineering, CFD Research Corporation, 701 McMillian Way NW, Huntsville, AL 35806, USA; E-Mail:
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