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Sun Y, Liu Y, Sun D, Liu K, Li Y, Liu Y, Zhang S. A facile single-cell patterning strategy based on harbor-like microwell microfluidics. Biomed Mater 2024; 19:045018. [PMID: 38772387 DOI: 10.1088/1748-605x/ad4e83] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Single-cell analysis is an effective method for conducting comprehensive heterogeneity studies ranging from cell phenotype to gene expression. The ability to arrange different cells in a predetermined pattern at single-cell resolution has a wide range of applications in cell-based analysis and plays an important role in facilitating interdisciplinary research by researchers in various fields. Most existing microfluidic microwell chips is a simple and straightforward method, which typically use small-sized microwells to accommodate single cells. However, this method imposes certain limitations on cells of various sizes, and the single-cell capture efficiency is relatively low without the assistance of external forces. Moreover, the microwells limit the spatiotemporal resolution of reagent replacement, as well as cell-to-cell communication. In this study, we propose a new strategy to prepare a single-cell array on a planar microchannel based on microfluidic flip microwells chip platform with large apertures (50 μm), shallow channels (50 μm), and deep microwells (50 μm). The combination of three configuration characteristics contributes to multi-cell trapping and a single-cell array within microwells, while the subsequent chip flipping accomplishes the transfer of the single-cell array to the opposite planar microchannel for cells adherence and growth. Further assisted by protein coating of bovine serum albumin and fibronectin on different layers, the single-cell capture efficiency in microwells is achieved at 92.1% ± 1%, while ultimately 85% ± 3.4% on planar microchannel. To verify the microfluidic flip microwells chip platform, the real-time and heterogeneous study of calcium release and apoptosis behaviours of single cells is carried out. To our knowledge, this is the first time that high-efficiency single-cell acquisition has been accomplished using a circular-well chip design that combines shallow channel, large aperture and deep microwell together. The chip is effective in avoiding the shearing force of high flow rates on cells, and the large apertures better allows cells to sedimentation. Therefore, this strategy owns the advantages of easy preparation and user-friendliness, which is especially valuable for researchers from different fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingnan Sun
- Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Detection Technology for Tumor Makers, School of Medicine, Linyi University, Linyi 276005, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongshu Liu
- Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Detection Technology for Tumor Makers, School of Medicine, Linyi University, Linyi 276005, People's Republic of China
| | - Dezhi Sun
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Signal Detection and Processing, School of Computer Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830046, People's Republic of China
| | - Kexin Liu
- Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Detection Technology for Tumor Makers, School of Medicine, Linyi University, Linyi 276005, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuyan Li
- Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Detection Technology for Tumor Makers, School of Medicine, Linyi University, Linyi 276005, People's Republic of China
| | - Yumin Liu
- Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Detection Technology for Tumor Makers, School of Medicine, Linyi University, Linyi 276005, People's Republic of China
| | - Shusheng Zhang
- Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Detection Technology for Tumor Makers, School of Medicine, Linyi University, Linyi 276005, People's Republic of China
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Zhou Y, Sun M, Xuanyuan T, Zhang J, Liu X, Liu W. Straightforward Cell Patterning with Ultra-Low Background Using Polydimethylsiloxane Through-Hole Membranes. Macromol Biosci 2023; 23:e2300267. [PMID: 37580176 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202300267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Micropatterning is becoming an increasingly popular tool to realize microscale cell positioning and decipher cell activities and functions under specific microenvironments. However, a facile methodology for building a highly precise cell pattern still remains challenging. In this study, A simple and straightforward method for stable and efficient cell patterning with ultra-low background using polydimethylsiloxane through-hole membranes is developed. The patterning process is conveniently on the basis of membrane peeling and routine pipetting. Cell patterning in high quality involving over 97% patterning coincidence and zero residue on the background is achieved. The high repeatability and stability of the established method for multiple types of cell arrangements with different spatial profiles is demonstrated. The customizable cell patterning with ultra-low background and high diversity is confirmed to be quite feasible and reliable. Furthermore, the applicability of the patterning method for investigating the fundamental cell activities is also verified experimentally. The authors believe this microengineering advancement has valuable applications in many microscale cell manipulation-associated research fields including cell biology, cell engineering, cell imaging, and cell sensing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Zhou
- School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Meilin Sun
- School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Tingting Xuanyuan
- School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Jinwei Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Xufang Liu
- School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Wenming Liu
- School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
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Shinde P, Shinde A, Kar S, Illath K, Nagai M, Tseng FG, Santra TS. Ultrathin SU-8 membrane for highly efficient tunable cell patterning and massively parallel large biomolecular delivery. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:4636-4651. [PMID: 37655799 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00244f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Cell patterning is a powerful technique for the precise control and arrangement of cells, enabling detailed single-cell analysis with broad applications in therapeutics, diagnostics, and regenerative medicine. This study presents a novel and efficient technique that enables massively parallel high throughput cell patterning and precise delivery of small to large biomolecules into patterned cells. The innovative cell patterning device proposed in this study is a standalone, ultrathin 3D SU-8 micro-stencil membrane, with a thickness of 10 μm. It features an array of micro-holes ranging from 40 μm to 80 μm, spaced apart by 50 μm to 150 μm. By culturing cells on top of this SU-8 membrane, the technique achieves highly efficient cell patterns varying from single-cell to cell clusters on a Petri dish. Utilizing this technique, we have achieved a remarkable reproducible patterning efficiency for mouse fibroblast L929 (80.5%), human cervical SiHa (81%), and human neuroblastoma IMR32 (89.6%) with less than 1% defects in undesired areas. Single-cell patterning efficiency was observed to be highest at 75.8% for L929 cells. Additionally, we have demonstrated massively parallel high throughput uniform transfection of large biomolecules into live patterned cells by employing an array of titanium micro-rings (10 μm outer diameter, 3 μm inner diameter) activated through infrared light pulses. Successful delivery of a wide range of small to very large biomolecules, including propidium iodide (PI) dye (668.4 Da), dextran (3 kDa), siRNA (13.3 kDa), and β-galactosidase enzyme (465 kDa), was accomplished in cell patterns for various cancer cells. Notably, our platform achieved exceptional delivery efficiencies of 97% for small molecules like PI dye and 84% for the enzyme, with corresponding high cell viability of 100% and 90%, respectively. Furthermore, the compact and reusable SU-8-based membrane device facilitates highly efficient cell patterning, transfection, and cell viability, making it a promising tool for diagnostics and therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pallavi Shinde
- Department of Engineering Design, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India.
| | - Ashwini Shinde
- Department of Engineering Design, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India.
| | - Srabani Kar
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Tirupati, India
| | - Kavitha Illath
- Department of Engineering Design, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India.
| | - Moeto Nagai
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology, Japan
| | - Fan-Gang Tseng
- Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan
| | - Tuhin Subhra Santra
- Department of Engineering Design, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India.
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Cardoso BD, Castanheira EMS, Lanceros-Méndez S, Cardoso VF. Recent Advances on Cell Culture Platforms for In Vitro Drug Screening and Cell Therapies: From Conventional to Microfluidic Strategies. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2202936. [PMID: 36898671 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202202936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
The clinical translations of drugs and nanomedicines depend on coherent pharmaceutical research based on biologically accurate screening approaches. Since establishing the 2D in vitro cell culture method, the scientific community has improved cell-based drug screening assays and models. Those advances result in more informative biochemical assays and the development of 3D multicellular models to describe the biological complexity better and enhance the simulation of the in vivo microenvironment. Despite the overall dominance of conventional 2D and 3D cell macroscopic culture methods, they present physicochemical and operational challenges that impair the scale-up of drug screening by not allowing a high parallelization, multidrug combination, and high-throughput screening. Their combination and complementarity with microfluidic platforms enable the development of microfluidics-based cell culture platforms with unequivocal advantages in drug screening and cell therapies. Thus, this review presents an updated and consolidated view of cell culture miniaturization's physical, chemical, and operational considerations in the pharmaceutical research scenario. It clarifies advances in the field using gradient-based microfluidics, droplet-based microfluidics, printed-based microfluidics, digital-based microfluidics, SlipChip, and paper-based microfluidics. Finally, it presents a comparative analysis of the performance of cell-based methods in life research and development to achieve increased precision in the drug screening process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz D Cardoso
- Physics Centre of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, Braga, 4710-057, Portugal
- LaPMET-Laboratory of Physics for Materials and Emergent Technologies, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- Center for MicroElectromechanical Systems (CMEMS-UMinho), Campus de Azurém, University of Minho, 4800-058, Guimarães, Portugal
- LABBELS-Associate Laboratory in Biotechnology and Bioengineering and Microelectromechanical Systems, University of Minho, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Elisabete M S Castanheira
- Physics Centre of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, Braga, 4710-057, Portugal
- LaPMET-Laboratory of Physics for Materials and Emergent Technologies, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Senentxu Lanceros-Méndez
- Physics Centre of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, Braga, 4710-057, Portugal
- LaPMET-Laboratory of Physics for Materials and Emergent Technologies, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- BCMaterials, Basque Center for Materials, Applications and Nanostructures, UPV/EHU Science Park, Leioa, 48940, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, 48009, Spain
| | - Vanessa F Cardoso
- Center for MicroElectromechanical Systems (CMEMS-UMinho), Campus de Azurém, University of Minho, 4800-058, Guimarães, Portugal
- LABBELS-Associate Laboratory in Biotechnology and Bioengineering and Microelectromechanical Systems, University of Minho, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
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Tian Q, Xing K, Liu Y, Wang Q, Sun H, Sun YN, Zhang S. Protocol for high-throughput single-cell patterning using a reusable ultrathin metal microstencil. STAR Protoc 2023; 4:102115. [PMID: 36853712 PMCID: PMC9947415 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Exploiting convenient strategies for single-cell preparation while maintaining a high throughput remains challenging. This protocol describes a simple workflow for high-throughput single-cell patterning using a reusable ultrathin metal microstencil (UTmS). We describe UTmS-chip design, fabrication, and quality characterization. We then detail the preparation of flat substrates and chip assembly for single-cell patterning, followed by culturing of cells on a chip. Finally, we describe the evaluation of single-cell patterning and the downstream applications for studying single-cell calcium release and apoptosis. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Song et al. (2021).1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingqing Tian
- Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Detection Technology for Tumor Makers, School of Medicine, Linyi University, Linyi, Shandong 276005, China
| | - Kunming Xing
- Linyi People's Hospital, Linyi, Shandong 276100, P. R. China
| | - Yongshu Liu
- Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Detection Technology for Tumor Makers, School of Medicine, Linyi University, Linyi, Shandong 276005, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Detection Technology for Tumor Makers, School of Medicine, Linyi University, Linyi, Shandong 276005, China
| | - Haonan Sun
- Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Detection Technology for Tumor Makers, School of Medicine, Linyi University, Linyi, Shandong 276005, China
| | - Ying-Nan Sun
- Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Detection Technology for Tumor Makers, School of Medicine, Linyi University, Linyi, Shandong 276005, China.
| | - Shusheng Zhang
- Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Detection Technology for Tumor Makers, School of Medicine, Linyi University, Linyi, Shandong 276005, China.
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