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Yang C, Yin D, Zhang H, Badea I, Yang SM, Zhang W. Cell Migration Assays and Their Application to Wound Healing Assays-A Critical Review. MICROMACHINES 2024; 15:720. [PMID: 38930690 PMCID: PMC11205366 DOI: 10.3390/mi15060720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, cell migration assays (CMAs) have emerged as a tool to study the migration of cells along with their physiological responses under various stimuli, including both mechanical and bio-chemical properties. CMAs are a generic system in that they support various biological applications, such as wound healing assays. In this paper, we review the development of the CMA in the context of its application to wound healing assays. As such, the wound healing assay will be used to derive the requirements on CMAs. This paper will provide a comprehensive and critical review of the development of CMAs along with their application to wound healing assays. One salient feature of our methodology in this paper is the application of the so-called design thinking; namely we define the requirements of CMAs first and then take them as a benchmark for various developments of CMAs in the literature. The state-of-the-art CMAs are compared with this benchmark to derive the knowledge and technological gap with CMAs in the literature. We will also discuss future research directions for the CMA together with its application to wound healing assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Yang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 200051, China;
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, Canada
| | - Di Yin
- School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; (D.Y.); (H.Z.)
| | - Hongbo Zhang
- School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; (D.Y.); (H.Z.)
| | - Ildiko Badea
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, Canada;
| | - Shih-Mo Yang
- School of Mechatronic Engineering and Automation, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Wenjun Zhang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 200051, China;
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, Canada
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Seidel T, Artmann PJ, Gkekas I, Illies F, Baack AL, Viefhues M. Microfluidic Single-Cell Study on Arabidopsis thaliana Protoplast Fusion-New Insights on Timescales and Reversibilities. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:295. [PMID: 38256848 PMCID: PMC10820889 DOI: 10.3390/plants13020295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Plant cells are omnipotent and breeding of new varieties can be achieved by protoplast fusion. Such fusions can be achieved by treatment with poly(ethylene glycol) or by applying an electric field. Microfluidic devices allow for controlled conditions and targeted manipulation of small batches of cells down to single-cell analysis. To provide controlled conditions for protoplast fusions and achieve high reproducibility, we developed and characterized a microfluidic device to reliably trap some Arabidopsis thaliana protoplasts and induced cell fusion by controlled addition of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG, with a molecular weight of 6000). Experiments were conducted to determine the survival rate of isolated protoplasts in our microfluidic system. Afterward, PEG-induced fusion was studied. Our results indicate that the following fusion parameters had a significant impact on the fusion efficiency and duration: PEG concentration, osmolality of solution and flow velocity. A PEG concentration below 10% led to only partial fusion. The osmolality of the PEG fusion solution was found to strongly impact the fusion process; complete fusion of two source cells sufficiently took part in slightly hyper-osmotic solutions, whereas iso-osmotic solutions led to only partial fusion at a 20% PEG concentration. We observed accelerated fusion for higher fluid velocities. Until this study, it was common sense that fusion is one-directional, i.e., once two cells are fused into one cell, they stay fused. Here, we present for the first time the reversible fusion of protoplasts. Our microfluidic device paves the way to a deeper understanding of the kinetics and processes of cell fusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorsten Seidel
- Dynamic Cell Imaging, Faculty of Biology, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Philipp Johannes Artmann
- Experimental Biophysics and Applied Nanosciences, Faculty of Physics, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Ioannis Gkekas
- Experimental Biophysics and Applied Nanosciences, Faculty of Physics, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Franziska Illies
- Dynamic Cell Imaging, Faculty of Biology, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
- Experimental Biophysics and Applied Nanosciences, Faculty of Physics, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Anna-Lena Baack
- Dynamic Cell Imaging, Faculty of Biology, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Martina Viefhues
- Experimental Biophysics and Applied Nanosciences, Faculty of Physics, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
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Yin S, Lu R, Liu C, Zhu S, Wan H, Lin Y, Wang Q, Qu X, Li J. Composite Microfluidic Petri Dish-Chip (MPD-Chip) without Protein Coating for 2D Cell Culture. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:15643-15652. [PMID: 37906157 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c01982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Hydrophilicity is a requisite attribute for the 2D cell culture substrate's surface, facilitating cell adhesion and spreading. Conventional poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microfluidic chips necessitate protein coatings to enhance hydrophilicity; however, this approach is afflicted by issues of transient efficacy, interference with cell analysis, and high costs. This paper presents a protein-free microfluidic chip, termed a "microfluidic Petri dish-chip (MPD-chip)", integrating PDMS as the cover and a tissue culture-treated (TC-treated) Petri dish as the substrate. Microstructures are hot-embossed onto the Petri dish substrate using a silicon mold. This meticulous replication process serves to establish stable flow field dynamics within the chip. A simplified method for irreversible bonding, utilizing plasma activation and silylation, is proposed for affixing the PDMS cover onto the microstructured Petri dish substrate. The prepared composite chip exhibits remarkable tightness, boasting a notable bond strength of 2825 kPa. Furthermore, the composite microfluidic chip demonstrates the capability to withstand flow velocities of at least 200 μL/min, effectively meeting the required injection standards for both cell suspension and culture medium. SH-SY5Y and HeLa cells are cultured dynamically in the MPD-chip and control groups. Outcomes encompassing normalized cell density, cell adhesion area, and cell viability metrics unequivocally highlight the superiority of the MPD-chip in facilitating long-term two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuqing Yin
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Ruoyu Lu
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Chong Liu
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
- Key Laboratory for Precision and Non-traditional Machining Technology of Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Shicheng Zhu
- Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510663, China
| | - Huifang Wan
- Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510663, China
| | - Yayun Lin
- Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510663, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- Hebei Sailhero Environmental Protection High-Tech Co., Ltd., Shijiazhuang 050081, China
| | - Xiaohu Qu
- Hebei Sailhero Environmental Protection High-Tech Co., Ltd., Shijiazhuang 050081, China
| | - Jingmin Li
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
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4
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Dufva M. A quantitative meta-analysis comparing cell models in perfused organ on a chip with static cell cultures. Sci Rep 2023; 13:8233. [PMID: 37217582 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35043-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
As many consider organ on a chip for better in vitro models, it is timely to extract quantitative data from the literature to compare responses of cells under flow in chips to corresponding static incubations. Of 2828 screened articles, 464 articles described flow for cell culture and 146 contained correct controls and quantified data. Analysis of 1718 ratios between biomarkers measured in cells under flow and static cultures showed that the in all cell types, many biomarkers were unregulated by flow and only some specific biomarkers responded strongly to flow. Biomarkers in cells from the blood vessels walls, the intestine, tumours, pancreatic island, and the liver reacted most strongly to flow. Only 26 biomarkers were analysed in at least two different articles for a given cell type. Of these, the CYP3A4 activity in CaCo2 cells and PXR mRNA levels in hepatocytes were induced more than two-fold by flow. Furthermore, the reproducibility between articles was low as 52 of 95 articles did not show the same response to flow for a given biomarker. Flow showed overall very little improvements in 2D cultures but a slight improvement in 3D cultures suggesting that high density cell culture may benefit from flow. In conclusion, the gains of perfusion are relatively modest, larger gains are linked to specific biomarkers in certain cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Dufva
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs Lyngby, Denmark.
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Dey P, Bradley TM, Boymelgreen A. The impact of selected abiotic factors on Artemia hatching process through real-time observation of oxygen changes in a microfluidic platform. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6370. [PMID: 37076493 PMCID: PMC10115827 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32873-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Current studies on abiotic impacts on Artemia, a crustacean which is widely used in aquaculture, and ecotoxicology, often focus on endpoint analysis (e.g., hatching rates, survival). Here, we demonstrate that a mechanistic understanding can be obtained through measurement of oxygen consumption in real-time over an extended time period in a microfluidic platform. The platform enables high level control of the microenvironment and direct observation of morphological changes. As a demonstration, temperature and salinity are chosen to represent critical abiotic parameters that are also threatened by climate change. The hatching process of Artemia consists of four different stages: hydration, differentiation, emergence, and hatching. Different temperatures (20, 35, and 30 °C) and salinities (0, 25, 50, and 75 ppt) are shown to significantly alter the duration of hatching stages, metabolic rates, and hatchability. Specifically, the metabolic resumption of dormant Artemia cysts was significantly enhanced at higher temperatures and moderate salinity, however, the time needed for this resumption was only dependent on higher temperatures. Hatchability was inversely related to the duration of the differentiation stage of hatching, which persisted longer at lower temperatures and salinities. The current approach of investigation of metabolism and corresponding physical changes can be employed to study hatching processes of other aquatic species, even those with low metabolic rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preyojon Dey
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Florida International University, 10555 W Flagler St, Miami, FL, 33174, USA
| | - Terence M Bradley
- Department of Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA
| | - Alicia Boymelgreen
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Florida International University, 10555 W Flagler St, Miami, FL, 33174, USA.
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6
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Yin S, Lu R, Li Y, Sun D, Liu C, Liu B, Li J. A microfluidic device inspired by leaky tumor vessels for hematogenous metastasis mechanism research. Analyst 2023; 148:1570-1578. [PMID: 36892183 DOI: 10.1039/d2an02081e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Endothelial intercellular pores of tumor vessels generally lead to enhanced interstitial flow and may facilitate the migration of tumor cells. The permeability of tumor vessels causes a concentration gradient of growth factors (CGGF) from blood vessels to tumor tissues, which is opposite to the direction of interstitial flow. In this work, exogenous chemotaxis under the CGGF is demonstrated as a mechanism of hematogenous metastasis. A bionic microfluidic device inspired by endothelial intercellular pores of tumor vessels has been designed to study the mechanism. A porous membrane vertically integrated into the device using a novel compound mold is utilized to mimic the leaky vascular wall. The formation mechanism of the CGGF caused by endothelial intercellular pores is numerically analyzed and experimentally verified. The migration behavior of U-2OS cells is studied in the microfluidic device. The device is divided into three regions of interest (ROI): primary site, migration zone, and tumor vessel. The number of cells in the migration zone increases significantly under the CGGF, but decreases under no CGGF, indicating tumor cells may be guided to the vascellum by exogenous chemotaxis. Transendothelial migration is subsequently monitored, demonstrating the successful replication of the key steps in vitro in the metastatic cascade by the bionic microfluidic device.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuqing Yin
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China.
| | - Ruoyu Lu
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China.
| | - Yang Li
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China.
| | - Dexian Sun
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, 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
| | - Bo Liu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Liaoning Key Lab of Integrated Circuit and Biomedical Electronic System, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China.
| | - Jingmin Li
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China.
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Aaryasree K, Yagnik A, Chordiya PK, Choudhury K, Kumar P. Nature-Inspired Vascularised Materials and Devices for Biomedical Engineering. CURRENT OPINION IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobme.2022.100444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Guo L, Shan J, Ran P, Yin S, Liu C, Li J. Permeation-Enhanced Degassing Method Based on Xylem Embolism Repair and Gas Permeable Materials. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:12373-12381. [PMID: 36171077 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c02145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic devices have developed a wide range of applications in the fields of biomedicine, chemistry, and analytical science. But it is easy to form and accumulate bubbles in microfluidic devices. These bubbles could decrease the detection sensitivity, cause inaccurate analysis results, and even damage the functional region of the device. Inspired by the embolism repair mechanism of angiosperms and the permeability of gas permeable materials, this work proposes a bioinspired permeation-enhanced degassing method. Bionic redundant pits are used in this method to keep bubbles from spreading between microchannels and maintain the continuity of the flow. A hydrophobic gas permeable material is used to enhance the bubble capture capability and accelerate the degassing process. This method can eliminate bubbles automatically and continuously in real time without auxiliary equipment. Compared to the bubble removal only depending on solution in water, the degassing effect of the permeation-enhanced degassing method shows about 1.6 times improvement in the same conditions, and the capability of trapping bubbles is improved by 1.33 times. In this paper, this method was integrated into a concentration gradient generator and a cell culture device. The results show that the concentration gradient generator with degassing structures can dissolve bubbles in a rapid way and reach the stability of the concentration gradient within 5-15 min. The degassing method can run for a long time and improve the cell density and cell viability of HeLa cells up to 2.64 and 1.12 times, respectively. The method has a broad application prospect in microfluidic fields including biomedical fluid processing, virus detection, and microscale reactor operation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihua Guo
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Jie Shan
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Penghui Ran
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Shuqing Yin
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Chong Liu
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
- Key Laboratory for Precision and Non-traditional Machining Technology of Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Jingmin Li
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
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9
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Ding L, Liu C, Yin S, Zhou Z, Chen J, Chen X, Chen L, Wang D, Liu B, Liu Y, Wei J, Li J. Engineering a dynamic three-dimensional cell culturing microenvironment using a "sandwich" structure-liked microfluidic device with 3D printing scaffold. Biofabrication 2022; 14. [PMID: 35973411 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ac8a19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Most of in vivo tissue cells reside in 3D extracellular matrix (ECM) with fluid flow. To better study cell physiology and pathophysiology, there has been an increasing need in the development of methods for culturing cells in in vivo like microenvironments with a number of strategies currently being investigated including hydrogels, spheroids, tissue scaffolds and very promising microfluidic systems. In this paper, a "sandwich" structure-liked microfluidic device integrated with a 3D printing scaffold is proposed for three-dimensional and dynamic cell culture. The device consists of three layers, i.e. upper layer, scaffold layer and bottom layer. The upper layer is used for introducing cells and fixing scaffold, the scaffold layer mimicking ECM is used for providing 3D attachment areas, and the bottom layer mimicking blood vessels is used for supplying dynamic medium for cells. Thermally assisted electrohydrodynamic jet (TAEJ) printing technology and microfabrication technology are combined to fabricate the device. The flow field in the chamber of device is evaluated by numerical simulation and particle tracking technology to investigate the effects of scaffold on fluid microenvironment. The cell culturing processes are presented by the flow behaviours of inks with different colors. The densities and viabilities of HeLa cells are evaluated and compared after 72 h of culturing in the microfluidic devices and 48-well plate. The dose-dependent cell responses to doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) are observed after 24 h treatment at different concentrations. These experimental results, including the evaluation of cell proliferation and in vitro cytotoxicity assessment of DOX in the devices and plate, demonstrate that the presented microfluidic device has good biocompatibility and feasibility, which have great potential in providing native microenvironments for in vitro cell studies, tissue engineering and drug screening for tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laiqian Ding
- Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Dalian, Liaoning, 116024, CHINA
| | - Chong Liu
- Key Laboratory for Precision and Non-traditional Machining Technology of Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Dalian, Liaoning, 116024, CHINA
| | - Shuqing Yin
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, No.2 Linggong Road, Ganjingzi District, Dalian, Liaoning, 116024, CHINA
| | - Zhanwei Zhou
- Beijing Spacecrafts Co., Ltd., Beijing, Beijing, 100094, CHINA
| | - Jing Chen
- Beijing Spacecrafts Co., Ltd., Beijing, Beijing, 100094, CHINA
| | - Xueting Chen
- Beijing Spacecrafts Co., Ltd., Beijing, Beijing, 100094, CHINA
| | - Li Chen
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, No. 2, Linggong Road, Ganjingzi District, Dalian, Liaoning, 116024, CHINA
| | - Dazhi Wang
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Dalian, Liaoning, 116024, CHINA
| | - Bo Liu
- Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Dalian, Liaoning, 116024, CHINA
| | - Yuanchang Liu
- University College London, London, London, London, WC1E 6BT, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| | - Juan Wei
- Centre for Advanced Laser Manufacturing (CALM), School of Mechanical Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Zibo, Shandong, 255049, CHINA
| | - Jingmin Li
- Lab of Biomedical Optics College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineerin, Dalian University of Technology, Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China, Dalian, 116024, CHINA
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10
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Guo L, Liu Y, Ran P, Wang G, Shan J, Li X, Liu C, Li J. A bioinspired bubble removal method in microchannels based on angiosperm xylem embolism repair. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2022; 8:34. [PMID: 35402001 PMCID: PMC8940964 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-022-00367-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
It is difficult to remove and eliminate bubbles in microchannels in many devices used in various biomedical fields, such as those needed for microfluidic immunoassays, point-of-care testing, and cell biology evaluations. Accumulated bubbles are associated with a number of negative outcomes, including a decrease in device sensitivity, inaccuracy of analysis results, and even functional failure. Xylem conduits of angiosperm have the ability to remove bubbles in obstructed conduits. Inspired by such an embolism repair mechanism, this paper proposes a bioinspired bubble removal method, which exhibits a prominent ability to dissolve bubbles continuously within a large range of flow rates (2 µL/min-850 µL/min) while retaining the stability and continuity of the flow without auxiliary equipment. Such a method also shows significant bubble removal stability in dealing with Newtonian liquids and non-Newtonian fluids, especially with high viscosity (6.76 Pa s) and low velocity (152 nL/min). Such advantages associated with the proposed bioinspired method reveal promising application prospects in macro/microfluidic fields ranging from 3D printing, implantable devices, virus detection, and biomedical fluid processing to microscale reactor operation and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihua Guo
- 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, Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7JE UK
| | - Penghui Ran
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Gang Wang
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Jie Shan
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Xudong Li
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Chong Liu
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Jingmin Li
- Key Laboratory for Micro/Nano Technology and System of Liaoning Province, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
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11
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Shape-programmable artificial cilia for microfluidics. iScience 2021; 24:103367. [PMID: 34825146 PMCID: PMC8605101 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The artificial ciliary motion has been known not to be hydrodynamically optimal, limiting their associated applications in the microscale flow domain. One of the major hurdles of contemporary artificial cilia is its structural rigidity, which restricts their flexibility. To address this issue, this work proposed a shape-programmable artificial cilia design with distinctive polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and magnetic segments distributed throughout the structure, which provided precise control for time-spatial modulation of the whole artificial cilia structure under external magnetic actuation. For the fabrication of the proposed multi-segment artificial cilia, a facile microfabrication process with stepwise mold blocking followed by the PDMS and magnetic composite casting was adopted. The hydrodynamic analysis further elucidated that the proposed artificial cilia beating induced significant flow disturbance within the flow field, and the associated application was demonstrated through an efficient mixing operation. Fabrication of artificial cilia was conducted through micromilling and casting methods. The weighted index was correlated to the bending angles of artificial cilia. Hydrodynamic analysis of artificial cilia was performed through the μPIV analysis. A significant improvement in mixing performance was achieved in few seconds.
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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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Mao M, Bei HP, Lam CH, Chen P, Wang S, Chen Y, He J, Zhao X. Human-on-Leaf-Chip: A Biomimetic Vascular System Integrated with Chamber-Specific Organs. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2020; 16:e2000546. [PMID: 32329575 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202000546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 03/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The vascular network is a central component of the organ-on-a-chip system to build a 3D physiological microenvironment with controlled physical and biochemical variables. Inspired by ubiquitous biological systems such as leaf venation and circulatory systems, a fabrication strategy is devised to develop a biomimetic vascular system integrated with freely designed chambers, which function as niches for chamber-specific vascularized organs. As a proof of concept, a human-on-leaf-chip system with biomimetic multiscale vasculature systems connecting the self-assembled 3D vasculatures in chambers is fabricated, mimicking the in vivo complex architectures of the human cardiovascular system connecting vascularized organs. Besides, two types of vascularized organs are built independently within the two halves of the system to verify its feasibility for conducting comparative experiments for organ-specific metastasis studies in a single chip. Successful culturing of human hepatoma G2 cells (HepG2s) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) shows good vasculature formation, and organ-specific metastasis is simulated through perfusion of pancreatic cancer cells and shows distinct cancer encapsulation by MSCs, which is absent in HepG2s. Given good culture efficacy, study design flexibility, and ease of modification, these results show that the bioinspired human-on-leaf-chip possesses great potential in comparative and metastasis studies while retaining organ-to-organ crosstalk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mao Mao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Ho Pan Bei
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chun Hei Lam
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China
| | - Pengyu Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Shuqi Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China
- Institute for Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310029, China
| | - Ying Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Soft Condensed Matter, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510000, China
| | - Jiankang He
- State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Xin Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China
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14
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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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15
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