1
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Saitta L, Cutuli E, Celano G, Tosto C, Sanalitro D, Guarino F, Cicala G, Bucolo M. Projection Micro-Stereolithography to Manufacture a Biocompatible Micro-Optofluidic Device for Cell Concentration Monitoring. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:4461. [PMID: 38006185 PMCID: PMC10675802 DOI: 10.3390/polym15224461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
In this work, a 3D printed biocompatible micro-optofluidic (MoF) device for two-phase flow monitoring is presented. Both an air-water bi-phase flow and a two-phase mixture composed of micrometric cells suspended on a liquid solution were successfully controlled and monitored through its use. To manufacture the MoF device, a highly innovative microprecision 3D printing technique was used named Projection Microstereolithography (PμSL) in combination with the use of a novel 3D printable photocurable resin suitable for biological and biomedical applications. The concentration monitoring of biological fluids relies on the absorption phenomenon. More precisely, the nature of the transmission of the light strictly depends on the cell concentration: the higher the cell concentration, the lower the optical acquired signal. To achieve this, the microfluidic T-junction device was designed with two micrometric slots for the optical fibers' insertion, needed to acquire the light signal. In fact, both the micro-optical and the microfluidic components were integrated within the developed device. To assess the suitability of the selected biocompatible transparent resin for optical detection relying on the selected working principle (absorption phenomenon), a comparison between a two-phase flow process detected inside a previously fully characterized micro-optofluidic device made of a nonbiocompatible high-performance resin (HTL resin) and the same made of the biocompatible one (BIO resin) was carried out. In this way, it was possible to highlight the main differences between the two different resin grades, which were further justified with proper chemical analysis of the used resins and their hydrophilic/hydrophobic nature via static water contact angle measurements. A wide experimental campaign was performed for the biocompatible device manufactured through the PμSL technique in different operative conditions, i.e., different concentrations of eukaryotic yeast cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (with a diameter of 5 μm) suspended on a PBS (phosphate-buffered saline) solution. The performed analyses revealed that the selected photocurable transparent biocompatible resin for the manufactured device can be used for cell concentration monitoring by using ad hoc 3D printed micro-optofluidic devices. In fact, by means of an optical detection system and using the optimized operating conditions, i.e., the optimal values of the flow rate FR=0.1 mL/min and laser input power P∈{1,3} mW, we were able to discriminate between biological fluids with different concentrations of suspended cells with a robust working ability R2=0.9874 and Radj2=0.9811.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Saitta
- Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 64, 95125 Catania, Italy; (G.C.); (C.T.); (G.C.)
| | - Emanuela Cutuli
- Department of Electrical Electronic and Computer Science Engineering, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 64, 95125 Catania, Italy; (D.S.); (M.B.)
| | - Giovanni Celano
- Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 64, 95125 Catania, Italy; (G.C.); (C.T.); (G.C.)
| | - Claudio Tosto
- Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 64, 95125 Catania, Italy; (G.C.); (C.T.); (G.C.)
| | - Dario Sanalitro
- Department of Electrical Electronic and Computer Science Engineering, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 64, 95125 Catania, Italy; (D.S.); (M.B.)
| | - Francesca Guarino
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Science, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 89, 95123 Catania, Italy;
| | - Gianluca Cicala
- Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 64, 95125 Catania, Italy; (G.C.); (C.T.); (G.C.)
- INSTM-UDR CT, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Maide Bucolo
- Department of Electrical Electronic and Computer Science Engineering, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 64, 95125 Catania, Italy; (D.S.); (M.B.)
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2
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Kim Y, Yang Y, Zhang X, Li Z, Vázquez-Guardado A, Park I, Wang J, Efimov AI, Dou Z, Wang Y, Park J, Luan H, Ni X, Kim YS, Baek J, Park JJ, Xie Z, Zhao H, Gazzola M, Rogers JA, Bashir R. Remote control of muscle-driven miniature robots with battery-free wireless optoelectronics. Sci Robot 2023; 8:eadd1053. [PMID: 36652505 DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.add1053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Bioengineering approaches that combine living cellular components with three-dimensional scaffolds to generate motion can be used to develop a new generation of miniature robots. Integrating on-board electronics and remote control in these biological machines will enable various applications across engineering, biology, and medicine. Here, we present hybrid bioelectronic robots equipped with battery-free and microinorganic light-emitting diodes for wireless control and real-time communication. Centimeter-scale walking robots were computationally designed and optimized to host on-board optoelectronics with independent stimulation of multiple optogenetic skeletal muscles, achieving remote command of walking, turning, plowing, and transport functions both at individual and collective levels. This work paves the way toward a class of biohybrid machines able to combine biological actuation and sensing with on-board computing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongdeok Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.,Nick J. Holonyak Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Yiyuan Yang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Xiaotian Zhang
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Zhengwei Li
- Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | | | - Insu Park
- Nick J. Holonyak Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Jiaojiao Wang
- Nick J. Holonyak Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Andrew I Efimov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Zhi Dou
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Yue Wang
- Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Junehu Park
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Haiwen Luan
- Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Xinchen Ni
- Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Yun Seong Kim
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Janice Baek
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.,Nick J. Holonyak Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Joshua Jaehyung Park
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Zhaoqian Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Structural Analysis for Industrial Equipment, Department of Engineering Mechanics, DUT-BSU Joint Institute, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Hangbo Zhao
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Mattia Gazzola
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.,National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.,Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - John A Rogers
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.,Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.,Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.,Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Rashid Bashir
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.,Nick J. Holonyak Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.,Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.,Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.,Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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3
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Hossain MM, Talukder MA. Graphene surface plasmon sensor for ultra-low-level SARS-CoV-2 detection. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0284812. [PMID: 37098037 PMCID: PMC10128942 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Precisely detecting the ultra-low-level severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is crucial. The detection mechanism must be sensitive, low-cost, portable, fast, and easy to operate to tackle coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). This work proposes a sensor exploiting graphene surface plasmon resonance to detect SARS-CoV-2. The graphene layer functionalized with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) antibodies will help efficient adsorption of the SARS-CoV-2. In addition to the graphene layer, ultra-thin layers of novel two-dimensional materials tungsten disulfide (WS2), potassium niobate (KNbO3), and black phosphorus (BP) or blue phosphorus (BlueP) used in the proposed sensor will increase the light absorption to detect an ultra-low SARS-CoV-2 concentration. The analysis presented in this work shows that the proposed sensor will detect SARS-CoV-2 as small as ∼1 fM. The proposed sensor also offers a minimum sensitivity of 201 degrees/RIU, a figure-of-merit of 140 RIU-1, and enhanced binding kinetics of the SARS-CoV-2 to the sensor surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Mahbub Hossain
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Muhammad Anisuzzaman Talukder
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh
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4
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Gomez-Cruz C, Laguna S, Bachiller-Pulido A, Quilez C, Cañadas-Ortega M, Albert-Smet I, Ripoll J, Muñoz-Barrutia A. Single Plane Illumination Microscopy for Microfluidic Device Imaging. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:1110. [PMID: 36551076 PMCID: PMC9775991 DOI: 10.3390/bios12121110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Three-dimensional imaging of live processes at a cellular level is a challenging task. It requires high-speed acquisition capabilities, low phototoxicity, and low mechanical disturbances. Three-dimensional imaging in microfluidic devices poses additional challenges as a deep penetration of the light source is required, along with a stationary setting, so the flows are not perturbed. Different types of fluorescence microscopy techniques have been used to address these limitations; particularly, confocal microscopy and light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM). This manuscript proposes a novel architecture of a type of LSFM, single-plane illumination microscopy (SPIM). This custom-made microscope includes two mirror galvanometers to scan the sample vertically and reduce shadowing artifacts while avoiding unnecessary movement. In addition, two electro-tunable lenses fine-tune the focus position and reduce the scattering caused by the microfluidic devices. The microscope has been fully set up and characterized, achieving a resolution of 1.50 μm in the x-y plane and 7.93 μm in the z-direction. The proposed architecture has risen to the challenges posed when imaging microfluidic devices and live processes, as it can successfully acquire 3D volumetric images together with time-lapse recordings, and it is thus a suitable microscopic technique for live tracking miniaturized tissue and disease models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Gomez-Cruz
- Departamento de Bioingeniería e Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 28911 Leganés, Spain
| | - Sonia Laguna
- Departamento de Bioingeniería e Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 28911 Leganés, Spain
| | - Ariadna Bachiller-Pulido
- Departamento de Bioingeniería e Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 28911 Leganés, Spain
| | - Cristina Quilez
- Departamento de Bioingeniería e Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 28911 Leganés, Spain
| | - Marina Cañadas-Ortega
- Departamento de Bioingeniería e Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 28911 Leganés, Spain
| | - Ignacio Albert-Smet
- Departamento de Bioingeniería e Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 28911 Leganés, Spain
| | - Jorge Ripoll
- Departamento de Bioingeniería e Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 28911 Leganés, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, 28009 Madrid, Spain
| | - Arrate Muñoz-Barrutia
- Departamento de Bioingeniería e Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 28911 Leganés, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, 28009 Madrid, Spain
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5
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Varol R, Karavelioglu Z, Omeroglu S, Aydemir G, Karadag A, Meco HE, Demircali AA, Yilmaz A, Kocal GC, Gencoglan G, Oruc ME, Esmer GB, Basbinar Y, Ozdemir SK, Uvet H. Acousto-holographic reconstruction of whole-cell stiffness maps. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7351. [PMID: 36446776 PMCID: PMC9709086 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35075-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Accurate assessment of cell stiffness distribution is essential due to the critical role of cell mechanobiology in regulation of vital cellular processes like proliferation, adhesion, migration, and motility. Stiffness provides critical information in understanding onset and progress of various diseases, including metastasis and differentiation of cancer. Atomic force microscopy and optical trapping set the gold standard in stiffness measurements. However, their widespread use has been hampered with long processing times, unreliable contact point determination, physical damage to cells, and unsuitability for multiple cell analysis. Here, we demonstrate a simple, fast, label-free, and high-resolution technique using acoustic stimulation and holographic imaging to reconstruct stiffness maps of single cells. We used this acousto-holographic method to determine stiffness maps of HCT116 and CTC-mimicking HCT116 cells and differentiate between them. Our system would enable widespread use of whole-cell stiffness measurements in clinical and research settings for cancer studies, disease modeling, drug testing, and diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahmetullah Varol
- Department of Mechatronics Engineering, Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, 34349, Turkey
- Universität der Bundeswehr München, Munich, 85577, Germany
| | - Zeynep Karavelioglu
- Bioengineering Department, Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, 34220, Turkey
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, 5232, Switzerland
- Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Zürich, 8092, Switzerland
| | - Sevde Omeroglu
- Chemical Engineering Department, Gebze Technical University, Kocaeli, 41400, Turkey
| | - Gizem Aydemir
- Department of Mechatronics Engineering, Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, 34349, Turkey
- Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Zürich, 8092, Switzerland
| | - Aslihan Karadag
- Oncology Institute, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, 35330, Turkey
| | - Hanife E Meco
- Oncology Institute, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, 35330, Turkey
| | - Ali A Demircali
- Department of Mechatronics Engineering, Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, 34349, Turkey
- Hamlyn Centre, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Abdurrahim Yilmaz
- Department of Mechatronics Engineering, Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, 34349, Turkey
| | - Gizem C Kocal
- Oncology Institute, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, 35330, Turkey
| | - Gulsum Gencoglan
- Department of Dermatology, Istinye University, Istanbul, 34722, Turkey
| | - Muhammed E Oruc
- Chemical Engineering Department, Gebze Technical University, Kocaeli, 41400, Turkey
| | - Gokhan B Esmer
- Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department, Marmara University, Istanbul, 34722, Turkey
| | - Yasemin Basbinar
- Oncology Institute, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, 35330, Turkey
| | - Sahin K Ozdemir
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Huseyin Uvet
- Department of Mechatronics Engineering, Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, 34349, Turkey.
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6
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Magogotya M, Vetten M, Roux-van der Merwe MP, Badenhorst J, Gulumian M. In vitro toxicity and internalization of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells and the human skin keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells. MUTATION RESEARCH/GENETIC TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MUTAGENESIS 2022; 883-884:503556. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2022.503556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
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7
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Ossowski P, Kuś A, Krauze W, Tamborski S, Ziemczonok M, Kuźbicki Ł, Szkulmowski M, Kujawińska M. Near-infrared, wavelength, and illumination scanning holographic tomography. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2022; 13:5971-5988. [PMID: 36733741 PMCID: PMC9872886 DOI: 10.1364/boe.468046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
We present a holographic tomography technique in which the projections are acquired using both wavelength and illumination scanning in the near-infrared region. We show how to process the acquired data to obtain correct values of three-dimensional refractive index distributions in both single-wavelength and multi-wavelength data acquisition schemes and how to properly account for the dispersion of the sample. We perform numerical and experimental comparisons of different illumination scenarios to determine the most efficient measurement protocol. We show that the multi-wavelength protocol is advantageous in terms of signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio over single-wavelength protocols, even for the same number of projections used for reconstructions. Finally, we show that this approach is suitable for providing high-quality refractive index distributions of relatively thick colon cancer samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paweł Ossowski
- Warsaw University of Technology, Institute of Micromechanics and Photonics, Boboli 8 street, Warsaw, 02-525, Poland
| | - Arkadiusz Kuś
- Warsaw University of Technology, Institute of Micromechanics and Photonics, Boboli 8 street, Warsaw, 02-525, Poland
| | - Wojciech Krauze
- Warsaw University of Technology, Institute of Micromechanics and Photonics, Boboli 8 street, Warsaw, 02-525, Poland
| | - Szymon Tamborski
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Grudziadzka 5, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
| | - Michał Ziemczonok
- Warsaw University of Technology, Institute of Micromechanics and Photonics, Boboli 8 street, Warsaw, 02-525, Poland
| | - Łukasz Kuźbicki
- Institute of Biology, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Lwowska 1, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
| | - Maciej Szkulmowski
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Grudziadzka 5, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Kujawińska
- Warsaw University of Technology, Institute of Micromechanics and Photonics, Boboli 8 street, Warsaw, 02-525, Poland
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8
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Hager R, Forsich C, Duchoslav J, Burgstaller C, Stifter D, Weghuber J, Lanzerstorfer P. Microcontact Printing of Biomolecules on Various Polymeric Substrates: Limitations and Applicability for Fluorescence Microscopy and Subcellular Micropatterning Assays. ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS 2022; 4:6887-6896. [PMID: 36277174 PMCID: PMC9578008 DOI: 10.1021/acsapm.2c00834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Polymeric materials play an emerging role in biosensing interfaces. Within this regard, polymers can serve as a superior surface for binding and printing of biomolecules. In this study, we characterized 11 different polymer foils [cyclic olefin polymer (COP), cyclic olefin copolymer (COC), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), DI-Acetate, Lumirror 4001, Melinex 506, Melinex ST 504, polyamide 6, polyethersulfone, polyether ether ketone, and polyimide] to test for the applicability for surface functionalization, biomolecule micropatterning, and fluorescence microscopy approaches. Pristine polymer foils were characterized via UV-vis spectroscopy. Functional groups were introduced by plasma activation and epoxysilane-coating. Polymer modification was evaluated by water contact angle measurement and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Protein micropatterns were fabricated using microcontact printing. Functionalized substrates were characterized via fluorescence contrast measurements using epifluorescence and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy. Results showed that all polymer substrates could be chemically modified with epoxide functional groups, as indicated by reduced water contact angles compared to untreated surfaces. However, transmission and refractive index measurements revealed differences in important optical parameters, which was further proved by fluorescence contrast measurements of printed biomolecules. COC, COP, and PMMA were identified as the most promising alternatives to commonly used glass coverslips, which also showed superior applicability in subcellular micropatterning experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland Hager
- School
of Engineering, University of Applied Sciences
Upper Austria, 4600 Wels, Austria
| | - Christian Forsich
- School
of Engineering, University of Applied Sciences
Upper Austria, 4600 Wels, Austria
| | - Jiri Duchoslav
- Center
for Surface and Nanoanalytics (ZONA), Johannes
Kepler University Linz, 4040 Linz, Austria
| | - Christoph Burgstaller
- School
of Engineering, University of Applied Sciences
Upper Austria, 4600 Wels, Austria
- Transfercenter
für Kunststofftechnik GmbH, 4600 Wels, Austria
| | - David Stifter
- Center
for Surface and Nanoanalytics (ZONA), Johannes
Kepler University Linz, 4040 Linz, Austria
| | - Julian Weghuber
- School
of Engineering, University of Applied Sciences
Upper Austria, 4600 Wels, Austria
- FFoQSI—Austrian
Competence Center for Feed and Food Quality, 3430 Tulln, Austria
| | - Peter Lanzerstorfer
- School
of Engineering, University of Applied Sciences
Upper Austria, 4600 Wels, Austria
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9
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Yu L, Wang Y, Wang Y, Zhuo K, Ma Y, Liu M, Zheng J, Li J, Li J, Gao P. Phase image correlation spectroscopy for detecting microfluidic dynamics. APPLIED OPTICS 2022; 61:5944-5950. [PMID: 36255833 DOI: 10.1364/ao.458026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
It is essential to quantify the physical properties and the dynamics of flowing particles in many fields, especially in microfluidic-related applications. We propose phase image correlation spectroscopy (PICS) as a versatile tool to quantify the concentration, hydro-diameter, and flow velocity of unlabeled particles by correlating the pixels of the phase images taken on flowing particles in a microfluidic device. Compared with conventional image correlation spectroscopy, PICS is minimally invasive, relatively simple, and more efficient, since it utilizes the intrinsic phase of the particles to provide a contrast instead of fluorescent labeling. We demonstrate the feasibility of PICS by measuring flowing polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) microspheres and yeast in a microfluidic device. We can envisage that PICS will become an essential inspection tool in biomedicine and industry.
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10
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Saha N, Brunetti G, Kumar A, Armenise MN, Ciminelli C. Highly Sensitive Refractive Index Sensor Based on Polymer Bragg Grating: A Case Study on Extracellular Vesicles Detection. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:415. [PMID: 35735562 PMCID: PMC9220804 DOI: 10.3390/bios12060415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The measurement of small changes in the refractive index (RI) leads to a comprehensive analysis of different biochemical substances, paving the way to non-invasive and cost-effective medical diagnosis. In recent times, the liquid biopsy for cancer detection via extracellular vesicles (EV) in the bodily fluid is becoming very popular thanks to less invasiveness and stability. In this context, here we propose a highly sensitive RI sensor based on a compact high-index-coated polymer waveguide Bragg grating with a metal under cladding. Owing to the combined effect of a metal under cladding and a high-index coating, a significant enhancement in the RI sensitivity as well as the dynamic range has been observed. The proposed sensor has been analyzed by combining finite element method (FEM) and coupled-mode theory (CMT) approaches, demonstrating a sensitivity of 408-861 nm/RIU over a broad dynamic range of 1.32-1.44, and a strong evanescent field within a 150 nm proximity to the waveguide surface compliant with EV size. The aforementioned performance makes the proposed device suitable for performing real-time and on-chip diagnoses of cancer in the early stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabarun Saha
- Optoelectronics Laboratory, Politecnico di Bari, Via E. Orabona 6, 70125 Bari, Italy; (N.S.); (G.B.); (M.N.A.)
| | - Giuseppe Brunetti
- Optoelectronics Laboratory, Politecnico di Bari, Via E. Orabona 6, 70125 Bari, Italy; (N.S.); (G.B.); (M.N.A.)
| | - Arun Kumar
- B-272, Prodhyogiki Apartments, Sec-3, New Delhi 110078, India;
| | - Mario Nicola Armenise
- Optoelectronics Laboratory, Politecnico di Bari, Via E. Orabona 6, 70125 Bari, Italy; (N.S.); (G.B.); (M.N.A.)
| | - Caterina Ciminelli
- Optoelectronics Laboratory, Politecnico di Bari, Via E. Orabona 6, 70125 Bari, Italy; (N.S.); (G.B.); (M.N.A.)
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11
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Hou Y, Jing J, Luo Y, Xu F, Xie W, Ma L, Xia X, Wei Q, Lin Y, Li KH, Chu Z. A Versatile, Incubator-Compatible, Monolithic GaN Photonic Chipscope for Label-Free Monitoring of Live Cell Activities. ADVANCED SCIENCE 2022; 9:e2200910. [PMID: 35404518 PMCID: PMC9189681 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202200910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The ability to quantitatively monitor various cellular activities is critical for understanding their biological functions and the therapeutic response of cells to drugs. Unfortunately, existing approaches such as fluorescent staining and impedance-based methods are often hindered by their multiple time-consuming preparation steps, sophisticated labeling procedures, and complicated apparatus. The cost-effective, monolithic gallium nitride (GaN) photonic chip has been demonstrated as an ultrasensitive and ultracompact optical refractometer in a previous work, but it has never been applied to cell studies. Here, for the first time, the so-called GaN chipscope is proposed to quantitatively monitor the progression of different intracellular processes in a label-free manner. Specifically, the GaN-based monolithic chip enables not only a photoelectric readout of cellular/subcellular refractive index changes but also the direct imaging of cellular/subcellular ultrastructural features using a customized differential interference contrast (DIC) microscope. The miniaturized chipscope adopts an ultracompact design, which can be readily mounted with conventional cell culture dishes and placed inside standard cell incubators for real-time observation of cell activities. As a proof-of-concept demonstration, its applications are explored in 1) cell adhesion dynamics monitoring, 2) drug screening, and 3) cell differentiation studies, highlighting its potential in broad fundamental cell biology studies as well as in clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Hou
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong China
| | - Jixiang Jing
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong China
| | - Yumeng Luo
- School of Microelectronics Southern University of Science and Technology Shenzhen 518055 China
| | - Feng Xu
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong China
| | - Wenyan Xie
- Department of Biotherapy State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center West China Hospital Sichuan University Chengdu Sichuan 610065 China
| | - Linjie Ma
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong China
| | - Xingyu Xia
- Department of Mechanical Engineering The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong China
| | - Qiang Wei
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials and Engineering Sichuan University Chengdu 610065 China
| | - Yuan Lin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong China
- Advanced Biomedical Instrumentation Centre Hong Kong Science Park Shatin New Territories Hong Kong
| | - Kwai Hei Li
- School of Microelectronics Southern University of Science and Technology Shenzhen 518055 China
| | - Zhiqin Chu
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong China
- School of Biomedical Sciences The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong China
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12
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Hassan HW, Rahmati M, Barrantes A, Haugen HJ, Mirtaheri P. In Vitro Monitoring of Magnesium-Based Implants Degradation by Surface Analysis and Optical Spectroscopy. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:6099. [PMID: 35682779 PMCID: PMC9181122 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Magnesium (Mg)-based degradable alloys have attracted substantial attention for tissue engineering applications due to their biodegradability and potential for avoiding secondary removal surgeries. However, insufficient data in the existing literature regarding Mg's corrosion and gas formation after implantation have delayed its wide clinical application. Since the surface properties of degradable materials constantly change after contact with body fluid, monitoring the behaviour of Mg in phantoms or buffer solutions could provide some information about its physicochemical surface changes over time. Through surface analysis and spectroscopic analysis, we aimed to investigate the structural and functional properties of degradable disks. Since bubble formation may lead to inflammation and change pH, monitoring components related to acidosis near the cells is essential. To study the bubble formation in cell culture media, we used a newly developed Mg alloy (based on Mg, zinc, and calcium), pure Mg, and commercially available grade 2 Titanium (Ti) disks in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) solution to observe their behaviour over ten days of immersion. Using surface analysis and the information from near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), we concluded on the conditions associated with the medical risks of Mg alloy disintegration. NIRS is used to investigate the degradation behaviour of Mg-based disks in the cell culture media, which is correlated with the surface analysis where possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hafiz Wajahat Hassan
- Department of Mechanical, Electronic and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Art and Design, Oslo Metropolitan University, 0130 Oslo, Norway;
| | - Maryam Rahmati
- Department of Biomaterials, Institute of Clinical Dentistry and Oral Research Laboratory, University of Oslo, 0317 Oslo, Norway; (M.R.); (A.B.); (H.J.H.)
| | - Alejandro Barrantes
- Department of Biomaterials, Institute of Clinical Dentistry and Oral Research Laboratory, University of Oslo, 0317 Oslo, Norway; (M.R.); (A.B.); (H.J.H.)
| | - Håvard Jostein Haugen
- Department of Biomaterials, Institute of Clinical Dentistry and Oral Research Laboratory, University of Oslo, 0317 Oslo, Norway; (M.R.); (A.B.); (H.J.H.)
| | - Peyman Mirtaheri
- Department of Mechanical, Electronic and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Art and Design, Oslo Metropolitan University, 0130 Oslo, Norway;
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13
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Lu T, Lee CH, Anvari B. Morphological Characteristics, Hemoglobin Content, and Membrane Mechanical Properties of Red Blood Cell Delivery Systems. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:18219-18232. [PMID: 35417121 PMCID: PMC9926936 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c03472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Red blood cell (RBC)-based systems are under extensive development as platforms for the delivery of various biomedical agents. While the importance of the membrane biochemical characteristics in relation to circulation kinetics of RBC delivery systems has been recognized, the membrane mechanical properties of such carriers have not been extensively studied. Using optical methods in conjunction with image analysis and mechanical modeling, we have quantified the morphological and membrane mechanical characteristics of RBC-derived microparticles containing the near-infrared cargo indocyanine green (ICG). We find that these particles have a significantly lower surface area, volume, and deformability as compared to normal RBCs. The residual hemoglobin has a spatially distorted distribution in the particles. The membrane bending modulus of the particles is about twofold higher as compared to normal RBCs and exhibits greater resistance to flow. The induced increase in the viscous characteristics of the membrane is dominant over the elastic and entropic effects of ICG. Our results suggest that changes to the membrane mechanical properties are a result of impaired membrane-cytoskeleton attachment in these particles. We provide a mechanistic explanation to suggest that the compromised membrane-cytoskeleton attachment and altered membrane compositional and structural asymmetry induce curvature changes to the membrane, resulting in mechanical remodeling of the membrane. These findings highlight the importance of membrane mechanical properties as an important criterion in the design and engineering of future generations of RBC-based delivery systems to achieve prolonged circulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thompson Lu
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Chi-Hua Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Bahman Anvari
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California 92521, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California 92521, United States
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14
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Pradeep S, Zangle TA. Quantitative phase velocimetry measures bulk intracellular transport of cell mass during the cell cycle. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6074. [PMID: 35414087 PMCID: PMC9005622 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10000-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Transport of mass within cells helps maintain homeostasis and is disrupted by disease and stress. Here, we develop quantitative phase velocimetry (QPV) as a label-free approach to make the invisible flow of mass within cells visible and quantifiable. We benchmark our approach against alternative image registration methods, a theoretical error model, and synthetic data. Our method tracks not just individual labeled particles or molecules, but the entire flow of bulk material through the cell. This enables us to measure diffusivity within distinct cell compartments using a single approach, which we use here for direct comparison of nuclear and cytoplasmic diffusivity. As a label-free method, QPV can be used for long-term tracking to capture dynamics through the cell cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soorya Pradeep
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Thomas A Zangle
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA. .,Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.
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15
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Band bending and effective index in the engineered Mach–Zehnder interferometer-based electrolytic sensor. APPLIED NANOSCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s13204-021-02074-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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16
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Grandy C, Port F, Pfeil J, Gottschalk KE. Influence of ROCK Pathway Manipulation on the Actin Cytoskeleton Height. Cells 2022; 11:cells11030430. [PMID: 35159239 PMCID: PMC8834639 DOI: 10.3390/cells11030430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The actin cytoskeleton with its dynamic properties serves as the driving force for the movement and division of cells and gives the cell shape and structure. Disorders in the actin cytoskeleton occur in many diseases. Deeper understanding of its regulation is essential in order to better understand these biochemical processes. In our study, we use metal-induced energy transfer (MIET) as a tool to quantitatively examine the rarely considered third dimension of the actin cytoskeleton with nanometer accuracy. In particular, we investigate the influence of different drugs acting on the ROCK pathway on the three-dimensional actin organization. We find that cells treated with inhibitors have a lower actin height to the substrate while treatment with a stimulator for the ROCK pathway increases the actin height to the substrate, while the height of the membrane remains unchanged. This reveals the precise tuning of adhesion and cytoskeleton tension, which leads to a rich three-dimensional structural behaviour of the actin cytoskeleton. This finetuning is differentially affected by either inhibition or stimulation. The high axial resolution shows the importance of the precise finetuning of the actin cytoskeleton and the disturbed regulation of the ROCK pathway has a significant impact on the actin behavior in the z dimension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolin Grandy
- Institute of Experimental Physics, University Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Fabian Port
- Institute of Experimental Physics, University Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Jonas Pfeil
- Institute of Experimental Physics, University Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
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17
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Moore RP, O'Shaughnessy EC, Shi Y, Nogueira AT, Heath KM, Hahn KM, Legant WR. A multi-functional microfluidic device compatible with widefield and light sheet microscopy. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 22:136-147. [PMID: 34859808 PMCID: PMC9022779 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00600b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We present a microfluidic device compatible with high resolution light sheet and super-resolution microscopy. The device is a 150 μm thick chamber with a transparent fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) cover that has a similar refractive index (1.34) to water (1.33), making it compatible with top-down imaging used in light sheet microscopy. We provide a detailed fabrication protocol and characterize the optical performance of the device. We demonstrate that the device supports long-term imaging of cell growth and differentiation as well as the rapid addition and removal of reagents while simultaneously maintaining sterile culture conditions by physically isolating the sample from the dipping lenses used for imaging. Finally, we demonstrate that the device can be used for super-resolution imaging using lattice light sheet structured illumination microscopy (LLS-SIM) and DNA PAINT. We anticipate that FEP-based microfluidics, as shown here, will be broadly useful to researchers using light sheet microscopy due to the ability to switch reagents, image weakly adherent cells, maintain sterility, and physically isolate the specimen from the optics of the instruments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regan P Moore
- Joint Biomedical Engineering Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
| | - Ellen C O'Shaughnessy
- Pharmacology Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Yu Shi
- Joint Biomedical Engineering Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
| | - Ana T Nogueira
- Pharmacology Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Katelyn M Heath
- Joint Biomedical Engineering Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
| | - Klaus M Hahn
- Pharmacology Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Wesley R Legant
- Joint Biomedical Engineering Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Pharmacology Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
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18
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Himmler M, Schubert DW, Fuchsluger TA. Examining the Transmission of Visible Light through Electrospun Nanofibrous PCL Scaffolds for Corneal Tissue Engineering. NANOMATERIALS 2021; 11:nano11123191. [PMID: 34947541 PMCID: PMC8705195 DOI: 10.3390/nano11123191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The transparency of nanofibrous scaffolds is of highest interest for potential applications like corneal wound dressings in corneal tissue engineering. In this study, we provide a detailed analysis of light transmission through electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds. PCL scaffolds were produced via electrospinning, with fiber diameters in the range from (35 ± 13) nm to (167 ± 35) nm. Light transmission measurements were conducted using UV-vis spectroscopy in the range of visible light and analyzed with respect to the influence of scaffold thickness, fiber diameter, and surrounding medium. Contour plots were compiled for a straightforward access to light transmission values for arbitrary scaffold thicknesses. Depending on the fiber diameter, transmission values between 15% and 75% were observed for scaffold thicknesses of 10 µm. With a decreasing fiber diameter, light transmission could be improved, as well as with matching refractive indices of fiber material and medium. For corneal tissue engineering, scaffolds should be designed as thin as possible and fabricated from polymers with a matching refractive index to that of the human cornea. Concerning fiber diameter, smaller fiber diameters should be favored for maximizing graft transparency. Finally, a novel, semi-empirical formulation of light transmission through nanofibrous scaffolds is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Himmler
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Rostock, Doberaner Straße 140, 18057 Rostock, Germany
- Institute of Polymer Materials, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Martenstraße 7, 91058 Erlangen, Germany;
- Correspondence: (M.H.); (T.A.F.)
| | - Dirk W. Schubert
- Institute of Polymer Materials, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Martenstraße 7, 91058 Erlangen, Germany;
| | - Thomas A. Fuchsluger
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Rostock, Doberaner Straße 140, 18057 Rostock, Germany
- Correspondence: (M.H.); (T.A.F.)
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19
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Samal P, Gubbins E, van Blitterswijk C, Truckenmüller R, Giselbrecht S. Thin fluorinated polymer film microcavity arrays for 3D cell culture and label-free automated feature extraction. Biomater Sci 2021; 9:7838-7850. [PMID: 34671787 DOI: 10.1039/d1bm00718a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
There is an increasing need for automated label-free morphometric analysis using brightfield microscopy images of 3D cell culture systems. This requires automated feature detection which can be achieved by improving the image contrast, e.g. by reducing the refractive index mismatch in the light path. Here, a novel microcavity platform fabricated using microthermoforming of thin fluorinated ethylene-propylene (FEP) films which match the refractive index of cell culture medium and provide a homogenous background signal intensity is described. FEP is chemically inert, mechanically stable and has been used as a substrate for light sheet microscopy. The microcavities promote formation of mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC) aggregates, which show axial elongation and germ layer specification similar to embryonic development. A label-free feature extraction pipeline based on a machine-learning plugin for FIJI is used to extract morphometric features from time-lapse imaging in a highly robust and reproducible manner. Lastly, the pipeline is utilized for testing the effect of the drug Latrunculin A on the mESC aggregates, highlighting the platform's potential for high-content screening (HCS) in drug discovery. This new microengineered tool is an important step towards label-free imaging of free-floating stem cell aggregates and paves the way for high-content drug testing and translational studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pinak Samal
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Eva Gubbins
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Clemens van Blitterswijk
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Roman Truckenmüller
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Stefan Giselbrecht
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands.
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20
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Zhang S, Yang Y, Liu S, Dong R, Qian Z. Influence of the Hypercapnic Tumor Microenvironment on the Viability of Hela Cells Screened by a CO 2-Gradient-Generating Device. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:26773-26781. [PMID: 34661031 PMCID: PMC8515822 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c04422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Carbon dioxide (CO2) levels outside of the physiological range are frequently encountered in the tumor microenvironment and laparoscopic pneumoperitoneum during clinical cancer therapy. Controversies exist regarding the biological effects of hypercapnia on tumor proliferation and metastasis concerning time frame, CO2 concentration, and cell type. Traditional control of gaseous microenvironments for cell growth is conducted using culture chambers that allow for a single gas concentration at a time. In the present paper, Hela cells were studied for their response to varying levels of CO2 in an aerogel-based gas gradient-generating apparatus capable of delivering a stable and quantitative linear CO2 profile in spatial and temporal domains. Cells cultured in the standard 96-well plate sandwiched in between the device were interfaced with the gas gradient generator, and the cells in each row were exposed to a known level of CO2 accordingly. Both the ratiometric pH indicator and theoretical modeling have confirmed the efficient mass transport of CO2 through the air-permeable aerogel monolith in a short period of time. Tumor cell behaviors in various hypercapnic microenvironments with gradient CO2 concentrations ranging from 12 to 89% were determined in terms of viability, morphology, and mitochondrial metabolism under acute exposure for 3 h and over a longer cultivation period for up to 72 h. A significant reduction in cell viability was noticed with increasing CO2 concentration and incubation time, which was closely associated with intracellular acidification and elevated cellular level of reactive oxygen species. Our modular device demonstrated full adaptability to the standard culture systems and high-throughput instruments, which provide the potential for simultaneously screening the responses of cells under tunable gaseous microenvironments.
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21
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Refractive index of biological tissues: Review, measurement techniques, and applications. Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther 2021; 33:102192. [PMID: 33508501 DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2021.102192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Refractive index (RI) is a characteristic optical variable that controls the propagation of light in the medium (e.g., biological tissues). Basic research with the aim to investigate the RI of biological tissues is of paramount importance for biomedical optics and associated applications. Herein, we reviewed and summarized the RI data of biological tissues and the associated insights. Different techniques for the measurement of RI of biological tissues are also discussed. Moreover, several examples of the RI applications from basic research, clinics and optics industry are outlined. This study may provide a comprehensive reference for RI data of biological tissues for the biomedical research and beyond.
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22
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Zheng Y, Montague SJ, Lim YJ, Xu T, Xu T, Gardiner EE, Lee WM. Label-free multimodal quantitative imaging flow assay for intrathrombus formation in vitro. Biophys J 2021; 120:791-804. [PMID: 33513336 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Microfluidics in vitro assays recapitulate a blood vessel microenvironment using surface-immobilized agonists under biofluidic flows. However, these assays do not quantify intrathrombus mass and activities of adhesive platelets at the agonist margin and use fluorescence labeling, therefore limiting clinical translation potential. Here, we describe a label-free multimodal quantitative imaging flow assay that combines rotating optical coherent scattering microscopy and quantitative phase microscopy. The combined imaging platform enables real-time evaluation of membrane fluctuations of adhesive-only platelets and total intrathrombus mass under physiological flow rates in vitro. We call this multimodal quantitative imaging flow assay coherent optical scattering and phase interferometry (COSI). COSI records intrathrombus mass to picogram accuracy and shape changes to a platelet membrane with high spatial-temporal resolution (0.4 μm/s) under physiological and pathophysiological fluid shear stress (1800 and 7500 s-1). With COSI, we generate an axial slice of 4 μm from the coverslip surface, approximately equivalent to the thickness of a single platelet, which permits nanoscale quantification of membrane fluctuation (activity) of adhesive platelets during initial adhesion, spreading, and recruitment into a developing thrombus (mass). Under fluid shear, pretreatment with a broad range metalloproteinase inhibitor (250 μM GM6001) blocked shedding of platelet adhesion receptors that shown elevated adhesive platelet activity at average of 42.1 μm/s and minimal change in intrathrombus mass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Zheng
- ACRF Department of Cancer Biology and Therapeutics, John Curtin School of Medical Research
| | - Samantha J Montague
- ACRF Department of Cancer Biology and Therapeutics, John Curtin School of Medical Research
| | - Yean J Lim
- ACRF Department of Cancer Biology and Therapeutics, John Curtin School of Medical Research; ACRF Centre for Intravital Imaging of Niches for Cancer Immune Therapy
| | - Tao Xu
- ACRF Department of Cancer Biology and Therapeutics, John Curtin School of Medical Research
| | - Tienan Xu
- ACRF Department of Cancer Biology and Therapeutics, John Curtin School of Medical Research
| | - Elizabeth E Gardiner
- ACRF Department of Cancer Biology and Therapeutics, John Curtin School of Medical Research
| | - Woei Ming Lee
- ACRF Department of Cancer Biology and Therapeutics, John Curtin School of Medical Research; ACRF Centre for Intravital Imaging of Niches for Cancer Immune Therapy; The ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
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23
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Shaabani E, Sharifiaghdam M, De Keersmaecker H, De Rycke R, De Smedt S, Faridi-Majidi R, Braeckmans K, Fraire JC. Layer by Layer Assembled Chitosan-Coated Gold Nanoparticles for Enhanced siRNA Delivery and Silencing. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:E831. [PMID: 33467656 PMCID: PMC7830320 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) provides one of the most powerful strategies for downregulation of therapeutic targets. Despite the widely explored capabilities of this strategy, intracellular delivery is hindered by a lack of carriers that have high stability, low toxicity and high transfection efficiency. Here we propose a layer by layer (LBL) self-assembly method to fabricate chitosan-coated gold nanoparticles (CS-AuNPs) as a more stable and efficient siRNA delivery system. Direct reduction of HAuCl4 in the presence of chitosan led to the formation of positively charged CS-AuNPs, which were subsequently modified with a layer of siRNA cargo molecules and a final chitosan layer to protect the siRNA and to have a net positive charge for good interaction with cells. Cytotoxicity, uptake, and downregulation of enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (eGFP) in H1299-eGFP lung epithelial cells indicated that LBL-CS-AuNPs provided excellent protection of siRNA against enzymatic degradation, ensured good uptake in cells by endocytosis, facilitated endosomal escape of siRNA, and improved the overall silencing effect in comparison with commercial transfection reagents Lipofectamine and jetPEI®. Therefore, this work shows that LBL assembled CS-AuNPs are promising nanocarriers for enhanced intracellular siRNA delivery and silencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elnaz Shaabani
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; (E.S.); (M.S.)
- Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; (H.D.K.); (S.D.S.); (J.C.F.)
| | - Maryam Sharifiaghdam
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; (E.S.); (M.S.)
- Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; (H.D.K.); (S.D.S.); (J.C.F.)
| | - Herlinde De Keersmaecker
- Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; (H.D.K.); (S.D.S.); (J.C.F.)
- Center for Advanced Light Microscopy, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Riet De Rycke
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium and VIB Center for Inflammation Research, 9052 Ghent, Belgium;
- Ghent University Expertise Centre for Transmission Electron Microscopy and VIB BioImaging Core, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Stefaan De Smedt
- Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; (H.D.K.); (S.D.S.); (J.C.F.)
- Center for Advanced Light Microscopy, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Reza Faridi-Majidi
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; (E.S.); (M.S.)
| | - Kevin Braeckmans
- Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; (H.D.K.); (S.D.S.); (J.C.F.)
- Center for Advanced Light Microscopy, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Juan C. Fraire
- Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; (H.D.K.); (S.D.S.); (J.C.F.)
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24
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Gul B, Ashraf S, Khan S, Nisar H, Ahmad I. Cell refractive index: Models, insights, applications and future perspectives. Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther 2020; 33:102096. [PMID: 33188939 DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2020.102096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Cell refractive index (RI) is an intrinsic optical parameter that governs the propagation of light (i.e., scattering and absorption) in the cell matrix. The RI of cell is sensitively correlated with its mass distribution and thereby has the capability to provide important insights for diverse biological models. Herein, we review the cell refractive index and the fundamental models for measurement of cell RI, summarize the published RI data of cell and cell organelles and discuss the associated insights. Illustrative applications of cell RI in cell biology are also outlined. Finally, future research trends and applications of cell RI, including novel imaging techniques, reshaping flow cytometry and microfluidic platforms for single cell manipulation are discussed. The rapid technological advances in optical imaging integrated with microfluidic regime seems to enable deeper understanding of subcellular dynamics with high spatio-temporal resolution in real time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Banat Gul
- Department of Basic Sciences, Military College of Engineering, National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Sumara Ashraf
- Department of Physics, The Women University Multan, Pakistan
| | - Shamim Khan
- Department of Physics, Islamia College Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Hasan Nisar
- Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany
| | - Iftikhar Ahmad
- Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine (IRNUM), Peshawar, Pakistan.
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25
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Hoang VT, Dobrakowski D, Stępniewski G, Kasztelanic R, Pysz D, Dinh KX, Klimczak M, Śmietana M, Buczyński R. Antiresonant fibers with single- and double-ring capillaries for optofluidic applications. OPTICS EXPRESS 2020; 28:32483-32498. [PMID: 33114933 DOI: 10.1364/oe.404701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In this work we discuss the effect of infiltration of different antiresonant fibers with low-refractive-index liquids, such as water and ethanol, on their optical properties. The fibers with single- and double-ring capillaries have been designed to show broad transmission bands in visible and near infrared range as it is required for optofluidics, in particular spectrophotometric applications. We show experimentally that their transmission windows shift toward shorter wavelengths and only modestly reduce their width. The transmission bands are located in the wavelength ranges of 533-670 nm and 707-925 nm, for the fibers when infiltrated with water. The two types of analyzed antiresonant fibers infiltrated with the liquids show similar light guidance properties when they are straight, but significantly lower bending loss can be achieved for the double-ring than for the single-ring antiresonant fiber. For this reason, the double-ring antiresonant fibers are more suitable as a compact solution for optofluidic applications, although transmission windows are reduced due to broader resonance peaks.
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26
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Butement JT, Holloway PM, Welsh JA, Holloway JA, Englyst NA, Horak P, West J, Wilkinson JS. Monolithically-integrated cytometer for measuring particle diameter in the extracellular vesicle size range using multi-angle scattering. LAB ON A CHIP 2020; 20:1267-1280. [PMID: 32149292 DOI: 10.1039/c9lc01182j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Size measurement of extracellular vesicles is hampered by the high cost and measurement uncertainty of conventional flow cytometers which is mainly due to the use of non-specialised free space optics. Integrated cytometry, where the optics and fluidics are embedded in a monolithic chip shows promise for the production of low cost, micro-flow cytometers dedicated for extracellular vesicle (EV) analysis with improved size measurement accuracy and precision. This research demonstrates a unique integrated cytometer for sub-micron particle size measurement using multi-angle scattering analysis. A combination of three technologies is used: (i) Dean-based hydrodynamic focussing to deliver a tight sample core stream to the analysis region, (ii) integrated waveguides with multimode interference devices to focus a narrow excitation beam onto the sample stream, and (iii) an angular array of collection waveguides to measure particle scattering distribution and calculate diameter. Low index 200 nm liposomes could be detected and polystyrene size standards as small as 400 nm diameter could be measured with an uncertainty of ±21 nm (1/2 IQR) demonstrating a first step on the path to high performance integrated cytometry of EVs.
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27
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Ilett M, Wills J, Rees P, Sharma S, Micklethwaite S, Brown A, Brydson R, Hondow N. Application of automated electron microscopy imaging and machine learning to characterise and quantify nanoparticle dispersion in aqueous media. J Microsc 2019; 279:177-184. [PMID: 31823372 PMCID: PMC7496512 DOI: 10.1111/jmi.12853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
For many nanoparticle applications it is important to understand dispersion in liquids. For nanomedicinal and nanotoxicological research this is complicated by the often complex nature of the biological dispersant and ultimately this leads to severe limitations in the analysis of the nanoparticle dispersion by light scattering techniques. Here we present an alternative analysis and associated workflow which utilises electron microscopy. The need to collect large, statistically relevant datasets by imaging vacuum dried, plunge frozen aliquots of suspension was accomplished by developing an automated STEM imaging protocol implemented in an SEM fitted with a transmission detector. Automated analysis of images of agglomerates was achieved by machine learning using two free open‐source software tools: CellProfiler and ilastik. The specific results and overall workflow described enable accurate nanoparticle agglomerate analysis of particles suspended in aqueous media containing other potential confounding components such as salts, vitamins and proteins. Lay Description In order to further advance studies in both nanomedicine and nanotoxicology, we need to continue to understand the dispersion of nanoparticles in biological fluids. These biological environments often contain a number of components such as salts, vitamins and proteins which can lead to difficulties when using traditional techniques to monitor dispersion. Here we present an alternative analysis which utilises electron microscopy. In order to use this approach statistically relevant large image datasets were collected from appropriately prepared samples of nanoparticle suspensions by implementing an automated imaging protocol. Automated analysis of these images was achieved through machine learning using two readily accessible freeware; CellProfiler and ilastik. The workflow presented enables accurate nanoparticle dispersion analysis of particles suspended in more complex biological media.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Ilett
- School of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, U.K
| | - J Wills
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, U.K
| | - P Rees
- Centre for Nanohealth, Swansea University, College of Engineering, Swansea, U.K
| | - S Sharma
- School of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, U.K
| | - S Micklethwaite
- School of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, U.K
| | - A Brown
- School of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, U.K
| | - R Brydson
- School of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, U.K
| | - N Hondow
- School of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, U.K
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