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Chen YS, Huang CH, Pai PC, Seo J, Lei KF. A Review on Microfluidics-Based Impedance Biosensors. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:bios13010083. [PMID: 36671918 PMCID: PMC9855525 DOI: 10.3390/bios13010083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Electrical impedance biosensors are powerful and continuously being developed for various biological sensing applications. In this line, the sensitivity of impedance biosensors embedded with microfluidic technologies, such as sheath flow focusing, dielectrophoretic focusing, and interdigitated electrode arrays, can still be greatly improved. In particular, reagent consumption reduction and analysis time-shortening features can highly increase the analytical capabilities of such biosensors. Moreover, the reliability and efficiency of analyses are benefited by microfluidics-enabled automation. Through the use of mature microfluidic technology, complicated biological processes can be shrunk and integrated into a single microfluidic system (e.g., lab-on-a-chip or micro-total analysis systems). By incorporating electrical impedance biosensors, hand-held and bench-top microfluidic systems can be easily developed and operated by personnel without professional training. Furthermore, the impedance spectrum provides broad information regarding cell size, membrane capacitance, cytoplasmic conductivity, and cytoplasmic permittivity without the need for fluorescent labeling, magnetic modifications, or other cellular treatments. In this review article, a comprehensive summary of microfluidics-based impedance biosensors is presented. The structure of this article is based on the different substrate material categorizations. Moreover, the development trend of microfluidics-based impedance biosensors is discussed, along with difficulties and challenges that may be encountered in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Shih Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Hao Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan
| | - Ping-Ching Pai
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 33305, Taiwan
| | - Jungmok Seo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan
- Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749, Republic of Korea
| | - Kin Fong Lei
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 33305, Taiwan
- Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749, Republic of Korea
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2
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Lei KF, Ho YC, Huang CH, Huang CH, Pai PC. Characterization of stem cell-like property in cancer cells based on single-cell impedance measurement in a microfluidic platform. Talanta 2021; 229:122259. [PMID: 33838770 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2021.122259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Investigation of stem cell-like property in cancer cells is important for the development of new therapeutic drugs targeting at malignant tumors. Currently, the standard approach for identifying cancer stem cell-like cells relies on the recognition of stem cell surface markers. However, the reliability remains controversial among biologists. In the current work, a dielectrophoretic and impedimetric hybrid microfluidic platform was developed for capturing single cells and characterizing their stem cell-like property. Single cells were captured in 20 μm trapping wells by dielectrophoretic force and their impedance spectra were measured by an impedance analyzer. The result showed that different cancer cell lines could be differentiated by impedance magnitude ranging between 2 and 20 kHz. Moreover, cancer cells and cancer stem cell-like cells could be categorized by a 2-dimensional graph of the impedance magnitudes at 2 and 20 kHz. The stem cell-like property in cancer cells was verified by stem cell surface markers and single-cell derived colony assay. Comparing with bio-chemical approach, i.e., surface markers, bio-physical approach, i.e., cell impedance, is a label-free technique to identify cancer stem cell-like cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kin Fong Lei
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Radiation Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan.
| | - Yu-Chen Ho
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Hao Huang
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Hao Huang
- PhD Program in Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Ping Ching Pai
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan
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Li YCE, Lee IC. The Current Trends of Biosensors in Tissue Engineering. BIOSENSORS 2020; 10:E88. [PMID: 32756393 PMCID: PMC7459738 DOI: 10.3390/bios10080088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Biosensors constitute selective, sensitive, and rapid tools for disease diagnosis in tissue engineering applications. Compared to standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analytical technology, biosensors provide a strategy to real-time and on-site monitor micro biophysiological signals via a combination of biological, chemical, and physical technologies. This review summarizes the recent and significant advances made in various biosensor technologies for different applications of biological and biomedical interest, especially on tissue engineering applications. Different fabrication techniques utilized for tissue engineering purposes, such as computer numeric control (CNC), photolithographic, casting, and 3D printing technologies are also discussed. Key developments in the cell/tissue-based biosensors, biomolecular sensing strategies, and the expansion of several biochip approaches such as organs-on-chips, paper based-biochips, and flexible biosensors are available. Cell polarity and cell behaviors such as proliferation, differentiation, stimulation response, and metabolism detection are included. Biosensors for diagnosing tissue disease modes such as brain, heart, lung, and liver systems and for bioimaging are discussed. Finally, we discuss the challenges faced by current biosensing techniques and highlight future prospects of biosensors for tissue engineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Chen Ethan Li
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Feng Chia University, Taichung 40724, Taiwan
| | - I-Chi Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300044, Taiwan
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Zhang F, Jin T, Hu Q, He P. Distinguishing skin cancer cells and normal cells using electrical impedance spectroscopy. J Electroanal Chem (Lausanne) 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jelechem.2018.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Pang Y, Yang J, Hui Z, Grottkau BE. Robotic Patterning a Superhydrophobic Surface for Collective Cell Migration Screening. Tissue Eng Part C Methods 2018; 24:205-213. [PMID: 29397786 DOI: 10.1089/ten.tec.2017.0499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Collective cell migration, in which cells migrate as a group, is fundamental in many biological and pathological processes. There is increasing interest in studying the collective cell migration in high throughput. Cell scratching, insertion blocker, and gel-dissolving techniques are some methodologies used previously. However, these methods have the drawbacks of cell damage, substrate surface alteration, limitation in medium exchange, and solvent interference. The superhydrophobic surface, on which the water contact angle is greater than 150 degrees, has been recently utilized to generate patterned arrays. Independent cell culture areas can be generated on a substrate that functions the same as a conventional multiple well plate. However, so far there has been no report on superhydrophobic patterning for the study of cell migration. In this study, we report on the successful development of a robotically patterned superhydrophobic array for studying collective cell migration in high throughput. The array was developed on a rectangular single-well cell culture plate consisting of hydrophilic flat microwells separated by the superhydrophobic surface. The manufacturing process is robotic and includes patterning discrete protective masks to the substrate using 3D printing, robotic spray coating of silica nanoparticles, robotic mask removal, robotic mini silicone blocker patterning, automatic cell seeding, and liquid handling. Compared with a standard 96-well plate, our system increases the throughput by 2.25-fold and generates a cell-free area in each well non-destructively. Our system also demonstrates higher efficiency than conventional way of liquid handling using microwell plates, and shorter processing time than manual operating in migration assays. The superhydrophobic surface had no negative impact on cell viability. Using our system, we studied the collective migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and cancer cells using assays of endpoint quantification, dynamic cell tracking, and migration quantification following varied drug treatments. This system provides a versatile platform to study collective cell migration in high throughput for a broad range of applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonggang Pang
- The Laboratory for Therapeutic 3D Bioprinting, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital , Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jing Yang
- The Laboratory for Therapeutic 3D Bioprinting, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital , Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Zhixin Hui
- The Laboratory for Therapeutic 3D Bioprinting, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital , Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Brian E Grottkau
- The Laboratory for Therapeutic 3D Bioprinting, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital , Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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Liu YC, Lee IC, Lei KF. Toward the Development of an Artificial Brain on a Micropatterned and Material-Regulated Biochip by Guiding and Promoting the Differentiation and Neurite Outgrowth of Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2018; 10:5269-5277. [PMID: 29400947 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b17863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
An in vitro model mimicking the in vivo environment of the brain must be developed to study neural communication and regeneration and to obtain an understanding of cellular and molecular responses. In this work, a multilayered neural network was successfully constructed on a biochip by guiding and promoting neural stem/progenitor cell differentiation and network formation. The biochip consisted of 3 × 3 arrays of cultured wells connected with channels. Neurospheroids were cultured on polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) films in the culture wells. Neurite outgrowth and neural differentiation were guided and promoted by the micropatterns and the PEM films. After 5 days in culture, a 3 × 3 neural network was constructed on the biochip. The function and the connections of the network were evaluated by immunocytochemistry and impedance measurements. Neurons were generated and produced functional and recyclable synaptic vesicles. Moreover, the electrical connections of the neural network were confirmed by measuring the impedance across the neurospheroids. The current work facilitates the development of an artificial brain on a chip for investigations of electrical stimulations and recordings of multilayered neural communication and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yung-Chiang Liu
- Ph.D. Program in Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, ‡Graduate Institute of Biochemical and Biomedical Engineering, ∥Graduate Institute of Medical Mechatronics, and ⊥Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chang Gung University , Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
- Neurosurgery Department and #Department of Radiation Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou , Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
| | - I-Chi Lee
- Ph.D. Program in Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, ‡Graduate Institute of Biochemical and Biomedical Engineering, ∥Graduate Institute of Medical Mechatronics, and ⊥Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chang Gung University , Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
- Neurosurgery Department and #Department of Radiation Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou , Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
| | - Kin Fong Lei
- Ph.D. Program in Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, ‡Graduate Institute of Biochemical and Biomedical Engineering, ∥Graduate Institute of Medical Mechatronics, and ⊥Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chang Gung University , Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
- Neurosurgery Department and #Department of Radiation Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou , Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
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Luan S, Hao R, Wei Y, Chen D, Fan B, Dong F, Guo W, Wang J, Chen J. A microfabricated 96-well wound-healing assay. Cytometry A 2017; 91:1192-1199. [PMID: 29156109 DOI: 10.1002/cyto.a.23286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Revised: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 11/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
This article presents a microfabricated 96-well wound-healing assay enabling high-throughput measurement of cellular migration capabilities. Within each well, the middle area is the wound region, made of microfabricated gold surface with self-assembled PEG repellent for cell seeding. After the formation of a cellular confluent monolayer around the wound region, collagen solution was applied to form three-dimensional matrix to cover the PEG surface, initiating the wound-healing process. By interpreting the numbers of migrated cells into the wound regions as a function of specific stimuli with different concentrations, EC50 (half-maximal effective concentration) was obtained. Using H1299 as a model, values of EC50 were quantified as 8% and 160 ng/ml for fetal bovine serum and CXCL12, respectively. In addition, the values of EC50 were demonstrated not to be affected by variations in compositions of extracellular matrix and geometries of wounds, which can thus be regarded as an intrinsic marker. Furthermore, the migration capabilities of a second cell type (HeLa) were characterized by the developed wound-healing assay, producing EC50 of 2% when fetal bovine serum was used as the stimuli. These results validated the proposed high-throughput wound-healing assay, which may function as an enabling tool in studying cellular capabilities of migration and invasion. © 2017 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoliang Luan
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Clinical Division of Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Institute of Electronics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People's Republic of China
- Univesity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanchen Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Institute of Electronics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People's Republic of China
| | - Deyong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Institute of Electronics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People's Republic of China
- Univesity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China
| | - Beiyuan Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Institute of Electronics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People's Republic of China
- Univesity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China
| | - Fengliang Dong
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Guo
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Clinical Division of Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, People's Republic of China
| | - Junbo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Institute of Electronics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People's Republic of China
- Univesity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Institute of Electronics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People's Republic of China
- Univesity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China
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Islam T, Resat H. Quantitative investigation of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell motility: dependence on epidermal growth factor concentration and its gradient. MOLECULAR BIOSYSTEMS 2017; 13:2069-2082. [PMID: 28799616 PMCID: PMC5624528 DOI: 10.1039/c7mb00390k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Enhanced cell motility is one of the primary features of cancer. Accumulated evidence demonstrates that Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) mediated pathways play an important role in breast cancer cell proliferation and migration. We have quantified the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell migration in response to the stimulation of EGFR pathways with their ligand EGF to determine how the cell motility of MDA-MB-231 cells depends on the ligand concentration and gradient. Analysis at the single cell level combined with mathematical modeling and the ability to vary the ligand concentration and gradients locally using microfluidic devices allowed us to separate the unique contributions of ligand concentration and ligand gradient to cell motility. We tracked the motility of 6600 cells individually using time lapse imaging under varying EGF stimulation conditions. Trajectory analysis of the tracked cells using non-linear multivariate regression models showed that: (i) cell migration of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells depends on the ligand gradient but not on the ligand concentration. This observation was valid for both the total (direction independent) and directed (along gradient direction) cell velocities. Although the dependence of the directed motility on ligand gradient is to be expected, the dependence of the total velocity solely on ligand gradient was an unexpected novel observation. (ii) Enhancement of the motilities of individual cells in a population upon exposure to the ligand was highly heterogeneous, and only a very small percentage of cells responded strongly to the external stimuli. Separating out the non-responding cells using quantitative analysis of individual cell motilities enabled us to establish that enhanced motility of the responding cells indeed increases monotonically with increasing EGF gradient. (iii) A large proportion of cells in a population were unresponsive to ligand stimulation, and their presence introduced considerable random intrinsic variability to the observations. This indicated that studying cell motilities at the individual cell level is necessary to better capture the biological reality and that population averaging methods should be avoided. Studying motilities at the individual cell level is particularly important to understand the biological processes that are possibly driven by the action of a small portion of cells in a population, such as metastasis. We discuss the implications of our results on the total and chemotactic movement of cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanzila Islam
- The Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.
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Lei KF, Kao CH, Tsang NM. High throughput and automatic colony formation assay based on impedance measurement technique. Anal Bioanal Chem 2017; 409:3271-3277. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-017-0270-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Revised: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Lei KF, Lin BY, Tsang NM. Real-time and label-free impedimetric analysis of the formation and drug testing of tumor spheroids formed via the liquid overlay technique. RSC Adv 2017. [DOI: 10.1039/c7ra00209b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor spheroids formed via the liquid overlay technique were quantitatively monitored by impedance measurement across the interdigitated electrodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kin Fong Lei
- Graduate Institute of Medical Mechatronics
- Chang Gung University
- Taoyuan
- Taiwan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering
| | - Bo-Yuan Lin
- Graduate Institute of Medical Mechatronics
- Chang Gung University
- Taoyuan
- Taiwan
| | - Ngan-Ming Tsang
- Department of Radiation Oncology
- Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
- Taiwan
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Chang Gung University
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Development of a 2-chamber culture system for impedimetric monitoring of cell-cell interaction. BIOCHIP JOURNAL 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s13206-016-1207-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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12
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Lei KF, Huang CH, Tsang NM. Impedimetric quantification of cells encapsulated in hydrogel cultured in a paper-based microchamber. Talanta 2015; 147:628-33. [PMID: 26592655 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2015.10.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2015] [Revised: 10/19/2015] [Accepted: 10/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Recently, 3D cell culture technique was proposed to provide a more physiologically-meaningful environment for cell-based assays. With the development of microfluidics technology, cellular response can be quantified by impedance measurement technique in a real-time and non-invasive manner. However, handling of these microfluidic systems requires a trained engineering personnel and the operation is not compatible to traditional biological research laboratories. In this work, we incorporated the impedance measurement technique to paper-based 3D cell culture model and demonstrated non-invasive quantification of cells encapsulated in hydrogel during the culture course. A cellulose filter paper was patterned with an array of circular microchambers. Cells were encapsulated in hydrogel and loaded to the microchambers for culturing cells in 3D environment. At the preset schedule during the culture course, the paper was placed on a glass substrate with measurement electrodes for the impedance measurement. Cells in each microchamber was represented by impedance magnitude and cell proliferation could be studied over time. Also, conventional bio-assay was performed to further confirm the feasibility of the impedimetric quantification of cells encapsulated in hydrogel cultured in the paper-based microchamber. This technique provides a convenient, fast, and non-invasive approach to monitor cells cultured in 3D environment. It has potential to be developed for routine 3D cell culture protocol in biological research laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kin Fong Lei
- Graduate Institute of Medical Mechatronics, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
| | - Chia-Hao Huang
- Graduate Institute of Medical Mechatronics, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Ngan-Ming Tsang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Department of Radiation Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan
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