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Rubby MF, Fonder C, Uchayash S, Liang X, Sakaguchi DS, Que L. Assessment of the Behaviors of an In Vitro Brain Model On-Chip under Shockwave Impacts. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:33246-33258. [PMID: 38905518 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c08026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Herein we report the assessment of the effects of shockwave (SW) impacts on adult rat hippocampal progenitor cell (AHPC) neurospheres (NSs), which are used as in vitro brain models, for enhancing our understanding of the mechanisms of traumatic brain injury (TBI). The assessment has been achieved by using culture dishes and a new microchip. The microchip allows the chemicals released from the brain models cultured inside the cell culture chamber under SW impacts to diffuse to the nanosensors in adjacent sensor chambers through built-in diffusion barriers, which are used to prevent the cells from entering the sensor chambers, thereby mitigating the biofouling issues of the sensor surface. Experiments showed the negative impact of the SW on the viability, proliferation, and differentiation of the cells within the NSs. A qPCR gene expression analysis was performed and appeared to confirm some of the immunocytochemistry (ICC) results. Finally, we demonstrated that the microchip can be used to monitor lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) released from the AHPC-NSs subjected to SW impacts. As expected, LDH levels changed when AHPC-NSs were injured by SW impacts, verifying this chip can be used for assessing the degrees of injuries to AHPC-NSs by monitoring LDH levels. Taken together, these results suggest the feasibility of using the chip to better understand the interactions between SW impacts and in vitro brain models, paving the way for potentially establishing in vitro TBI models on a chip.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Fazlay Rubby
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Catherine Fonder
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Program, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
- Nanovaccine Institute, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Sajid Uchayash
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Xiaogan Liang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Donald S Sakaguchi
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Program, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
- Neuroscience Program, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
- Nanovaccine Institute, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Long Que
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
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Habli Z, Lahoud R, Zantout A, Abou-Kheir W, Khraiche ML. Single-cell fluid-based force spectroscopy reveals near lipid size nano-topography effects on neural cell adhesion. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:707-718. [PMID: 38230917 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00984j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Nano-roughness has shown great potential in enhancing high-fidelity electrogenic cell interfaces, owing to its characteristic topography comparable to proteins and lipids, which influences a wide range of cellular mechanical responses. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of how cells respond to nano-roughness at the single-cell level is not only imperative for implanted devices but also essential for tissue regeneration and interaction with complex biomaterial surfaces. In this study, we quantify cell adhesion and biomechanics of single cells to nano-roughened surfaces by measuring neural cell adhesion and biomechanics via fluidic-based single-cell force spectroscopy (SCFS). For this, we introduce nanoscale topographical features on polyimide (PI) surfaces achieving roughness up to 25 nm without chemical modifications. Initial adhesion experiments show cell-specific response to nano-roughness for neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) compared to human astrocytes (NHA) around 15 and 20 nm surface roughness. In addition, our SCFS measurements revealed a remarkable 2.5-fold increase in adhesion forces (150-164 nN) for SH-SY5Y cells cultured on roughened PI (rPI) surfaces compared to smooth surfaces (60-107 nN). Our data also shows that cells can distinguish changes in nano-roughness as small 2 nm (close to the diameter of a single lipid) and show roughness dependence adhesion while favoring 15 nm. Notably, this enhanced adhesion is accompanied by increased cell elongation upon cell detachment without any significant differences in cell area spreading. The study provides valuable insights into the interplay between nano-topography and cellular responses and offers practical implications for designing biomaterial surfaces with enhanced cellular interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeina Habli
- Neural Engineering and Nanobiosensors Group, Biomedical Engineering Program, Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon.
| | - Rima Lahoud
- Neural Engineering and Nanobiosensors Group, Biomedical Engineering Program, Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon.
| | - Ahmad Zantout
- Neural Engineering and Nanobiosensors Group, Biomedical Engineering Program, Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon.
| | - Wassim Abou-Kheir
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Massoud L Khraiche
- Neural Engineering and Nanobiosensors Group, Biomedical Engineering Program, Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon.
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Steiner K, Humpel C. Long-term organotypic brain slices cultured on collagen-based microcontact prints: A perspective for a brain-on-a-chip. J Neurosci Methods 2023; 399:109979. [PMID: 37783349 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2023.109979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Organotypic brain slices are three-dimensional 150 µm-thick sections of a postnatal day 10 mouse and can be cultured for several weeks in vitro. In such brain slices the complex cellular connections are preserved with a high viability. These brain slices can be connected to collagen-loaded microcontact prints to develop a simple brain-on-a-chip model. Using the microcontact printing technique, many peptides or proteins can be printed onto a semipermeable membrane and linked to brain slices. On these microcontact prints, brain-derived nerve fibers grow out, or microglia can get activated and migrate out, or also new brain vessels can be formed. Such a brain-on-a-chip model may allow to develop new drugs or a diagnostic method for neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Steiner
- Laboratory of Psychiatry and Experimental Alzheimer's Research, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Christian Humpel
- Laboratory of Psychiatry and Experimental Alzheimer's Research, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria.
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Akcay G, Luttge R. Microenvironments Matter: Advances in Brain-on-Chip. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:551. [PMID: 37232912 PMCID: PMC10216565 DOI: 10.3390/bios13050551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
To highlight the particular needs with respect to modeling the unique and complex organization of the human brain structure, we reviewed the state-of-the-art in devising brain models with engineered instructive microenvironments. To acquire a better perspective on the brain's working mechanisms, we first summarize the importance of regional stiffness gradients in brain tissue, varying per layer and the cellular diversities of the layers. Through this, one can acquire an understanding of the essential parameters in emulating the brain in vitro. In addition to the brain's organizational architecture, we addressed also how the mechanical properties have an impact on neuronal cell responses. In this respect, advanced in vitro platforms emerged and profoundly changed the methods of brain modeling efforts from the past, mainly focusing on animal or cell line research. The main challenges in imitating features of the brain in a dish are with regard to composition and functionality. In neurobiological research, there are now methods that aim to cope with such challenges by the self-assembly of human-derived pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), i.e., brainoids. Alternatively, these brainoids can be used stand-alone or in conjunction with Brain-on-Chip (BoC) platform technology, 3D-printed gels, and other types of engineered guidance features. Currently, advanced in vitro methods have made a giant leap forward regarding cost-effectiveness, ease-of-use, and availability. We bring these recent developments together into one review. We believe our conclusions will give a novel perspective towards advancing instructive microenvironments for BoCs and the understanding of the brain's cellular functions either in modeling healthy or diseased states of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gulden Akcay
- Neuro-Nanoscale Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering/Microsystems, Institute of Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands;
| | - Regina Luttge
- Neuro-Nanoscale Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering/Microsystems, Institute of Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands;
- Eindhoven Artificial Intelligence Systems Institute, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Eindhoven Hendrik Casimir Institute, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
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Goshi N, Girardi G, da Costa Souza F, Gardner A, Lein PJ, Seker E. Influence of microchannel geometry on device performance and electrophysiological recording fidelity during long-term studies of connected neural populations. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:3961-3975. [PMID: 36111641 PMCID: PMC9639432 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00683a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Compartmentalized microfluidic neural cell culture platforms, which physically separate axons from the neural soma using a series of microchannels, have been used for studying a wide range of pathological conditions and basic neuroscience questions. While each study has different experimental needs, the fundamental design of these devices has largely remained unchanged and a systematic study to establish long-term neural cultures in this format is lacking. Here, we investigate the influence of microchannel geometry and cell seeding density on device performance particularly in the context of long-term studies of synaptically-connected, yet fluidically-isolated neural populations of neurons and glia. Of the different experimental parameters, the microchannel height was the principal determinant of device performance, where the other parameters offer additional degrees of freedom in customizing such devices for specific applications. We condense the effects of these parameters into design rules and demonstrate their utility in engineering a microfluidic neural culture platform with integrated microelectrode arrays. The engineered device successfully recorded from primary rat cortical cells for 59 days in vitro with more than on order of magnitude enhancement in signal-to-noise ratio in the microchannels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah Goshi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Gregory Girardi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Felipe da Costa Souza
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Alexander Gardner
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Pamela J Lein
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Erkin Seker
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
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Cameron T, Bennet T, Rowe EM, Anwer M, Wellington CL, Cheung KC. Review of Design Considerations for Brain-on-a-Chip Models. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:441. [PMID: 33921018 PMCID: PMC8071412 DOI: 10.3390/mi12040441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, the need for sophisticated human in vitro models for integrative biology has motivated the development of organ-on-a-chip platforms. Organ-on-a-chip devices are engineered to mimic the mechanical, biochemical and physiological properties of human organs; however, there are many important considerations when selecting or designing an appropriate device for investigating a specific scientific question. Building microfluidic Brain-on-a-Chip (BoC) models from the ground-up will allow for research questions to be answered more thoroughly in the brain research field, but the design of these devices requires several choices to be made throughout the design development phase. These considerations include the cell types, extracellular matrix (ECM) material(s), and perfusion/flow considerations. Choices made early in the design cycle will dictate the limitations of the device and influence the end-point results such as the permeability of the endothelial cell monolayer, and the expression of cell type-specific markers. To better understand why the engineering aspects of a microfluidic BoC need to be influenced by the desired biological environment, recent progress in microfluidic BoC technology is compared. This review focuses on perfusable blood-brain barrier (BBB) and neurovascular unit (NVU) models with discussions about the chip architecture, the ECM used, and how they relate to the in vivo human brain. With increased knowledge on how to make informed choices when selecting or designing BoC models, the scientific community will benefit from shorter development phases and platforms curated for their application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany Cameron
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; (T.C.); (T.B.)
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Tanya Bennet
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; (T.C.); (T.B.)
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Elyn M. Rowe
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; (E.M.R.); (M.A.); (C.L.W.)
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Mehwish Anwer
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; (E.M.R.); (M.A.); (C.L.W.)
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Cheryl L. Wellington
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; (E.M.R.); (M.A.); (C.L.W.)
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Karen C. Cheung
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; (T.C.); (T.B.)
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
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De Vitis E, La Pesa V, Gervaso F, Romano A, Quattrini A, Gigli G, Moroni L, Polini A. A microfabricated multi-compartment device for neuron and Schwann cell differentiation. Sci Rep 2021; 11:7019. [PMID: 33782434 PMCID: PMC8007719 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86300-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the complex communication between different cell populations and their interaction with the microenvironment in the central and peripheral nervous systems is fundamental in neuroscience research. The development of appropriate in vitro approaches and tools, able to selectively analyze and/or probe specific cells and cell portions (e.g., axons and cell bodies in neurons), driving their differentiation into specific cell phenotypes, has become therefore crucial in this direction. Here we report a multi-compartment microfluidic device where up to three different cell populations can be cultured in a fluidically independent circuit. The device allows cell migration across the compartments and their differentiation. We showed that an accurate choice of the device geometrical features and cell culture parameters allows to (1) maximize cell adhesion and proliferation of neuron-like human cells (SH-SY5Y cells), (2) control the inter-compartment cell migration of neuron and Schwann cells, (3) perform long-term cell culture studies in which both SH-SY5Y cells and primary rat Schwann cells can be differentiated towards specific phenotypes. These results can lead to a plethora of in vitro co-culture studies in the neuroscience research field, where tuning and investigating cell-cell and cell-microenvironment interactions are essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora De Vitis
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, Campus Ecotekne, via Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy
- Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica E. de Giorgi, Università Del Salento, Campus Ecotekne, via Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy
| | - Velia La Pesa
- Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Gervaso
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, Campus Ecotekne, via Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Romano
- Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Angelo Quattrini
- Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Gigli
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, Campus Ecotekne, via Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy
- Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica E. de Giorgi, Università Del Salento, Campus Ecotekne, via Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moroni
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, Campus Ecotekne, via Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy
- Complex Tissue Regeneration, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, Maastricht, 6229 ER, The Netherlands
| | - Alessandro Polini
- CNR NANOTEC - Institute of Nanotechnology, Campus Ecotekne, via Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy.
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Gaining Micropattern Fidelity in an NOA81 Microsieve Laser Ablation Process. MICROMACHINES 2020; 12:mi12010021. [PMID: 33375445 PMCID: PMC7823379 DOI: 10.3390/mi12010021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
We studied the micropattern fidelity of a Norland Optical Adhesive 81 (NOA81) microsieve made by soft-lithography and laser micromachining. Ablation opens replicated cavities, resulting in three-dimensional (3D) micropores. We previously demonstrated that microsieves can capture cells by passive pumping. Flow, capture yield, and cell survival depend on the control of the micropore geometry and must yield high reproducibility within the device and from device to device. We investigated the NOA81 film thickness, the laser pulse repetition rate, the number of pulses, and the beam focusing distance. For NOA81 films spin-coated between 600 and 1200 rpm, the pulse number controls the breaching of films to form the pore’s aperture and dominates the process. Pulse repetition rates between 50 and 200 Hz had no observable influence. We also explored laser focal plane to substrate distance to find the most effective ablation conditions. Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) of focused ion beam (FIB)-cut cross sections of the NOA81 micropores and inverted micropore copies in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) show a smooth surface topology with minimal debris. Our studies reveal that the combined process allows for a 3D micropore quality from device to device with a large enough process window for biological studies.
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