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Calabria D, Trozzi I, Lazzarini E, Pace A, Zangheri M, Iannascoli L, Maipan Davis N, Gosikere Matadha SS, Baratto De Albuquerque T, Pirrotta S, Del Bianco M, Impresario G, Popova L, Lovecchio N, de Cesare G, Caputo D, Brucato J, Nascetti A, Guardigli M, Mirasoli M. AstroBio-CubeSat: A lab-in-space for chemiluminescence-based astrobiology experiments. Biosens Bioelectron 2023; 226:115110. [PMID: 36750012 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Space exploration is facing a new era in view of the planned missions to the Moon and Mars. The development and the in-flight validation of new technologies, including analytical and diagnostic platforms, is pivotal for exploring and inhabiting these extreme environments. In this context, biosensors and lab-on-chip devices can play an important role in many situations, such as the analysis of biological samples for assessing the impact of deep space conditions on man and other biological systems, environmental and food safety monitoring, and the search of molecular indicators of past or present life in extra-terrestrial environments. Small satellites such as CubeSats are nowadays increasingly exploited as fast and low-cost platforms for conducting in-flight technology validation. Herein, we report the development of a fully autonomous lab-on-chip platform for performing chemiluminescence-based bioassays in space. The device was designed to be hosted onboard the AstroBio CubeSat nanosatellite, with the aim of conducting its in-flight validation and evaluating the stability of (bio)molecules required for bioassays in a challenging radiation environment. An origami-like microfluidic paper-based analytical format allowed preloading all the reagents in the dried form on the paper substrate, thus simplifying device design and analytical protocols, facilitating autonomous assay execution, and enhancing the stability of reagents. The chosen approach should constitute the first step to implement a mature technology with the aim to conduct life science research in space (e.g., for evaluation the effect of deep space conditions on living organisms or searching molecular evidence of life) more easily and at lower cost than previously possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donato Calabria
- Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician", Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, I-40126, Bologna, Italy; Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Aerospace Research (CIRI AEROSPACE), Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Baldassarre Canaccini 12, I-47121, Forlì, Italy
| | - Ilaria Trozzi
- Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician", Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, I-40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Elisa Lazzarini
- Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician", Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, I-40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Pace
- Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician", Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, I-40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Martina Zangheri
- Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician", Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, I-40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Iannascoli
- School of Aerospace Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Salaria 851, I-00138, Rome, Italy
| | - Nithin Maipan Davis
- School of Aerospace Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Salaria 851, I-00138, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Simone Pirrotta
- Italian Space Agency (ASI), Via del Politecnico, I-00133, Roma, Italy
| | - Marta Del Bianco
- Italian Space Agency (ASI), Via del Politecnico, I-00133, Roma, Italy
| | | | - Liyana Popova
- Kayser Italia s.r.l., Via di Popogna 501, I-57128, Livorno, Italy
| | - Nicola Lovecchio
- Department of Information Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunications, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Eudossiana 18, I-00184, Rome, Italy
| | - Giampiero de Cesare
- Department of Information Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunications, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Eudossiana 18, I-00184, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Caputo
- Department of Information Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunications, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Eudossiana 18, I-00184, Rome, Italy
| | - John Brucato
- INAF-Astrophysical Observatory of Arcetri, Largo E. Fermi 5, I-50125, Florence, Italy
| | - Augusto Nascetti
- School of Aerospace Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Salaria 851, I-00138, Rome, Italy.
| | - Massimo Guardigli
- Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician", Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, I-40126, Bologna, Italy; Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Aerospace Research (CIRI AEROSPACE), Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Baldassarre Canaccini 12, I-47121, Forlì, Italy
| | - Mara Mirasoli
- Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician", Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, I-40126, Bologna, Italy; Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Aerospace Research (CIRI AEROSPACE), Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Baldassarre Canaccini 12, I-47121, Forlì, Italy.
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Balbaied T, Moore E. Overview of Optical and Electrochemical Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) Biosensors: Recent Approaches in Cells Culture Techniques. Biosensors (Basel) 2019; 9:E102. [PMID: 31450819 PMCID: PMC6784369 DOI: 10.3390/bios9030102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Revised: 08/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), which catalyzes the dephosphorylation process of proteins, nucleic acids, and small molecules, can be found in a variety of tissues (intestine, liver, bone, kidney, and placenta) of almost all living organisms. This enzyme has been extensively used as a biomarker in enzyme immunoassays and molecular biology. ALP is also one of the most commonly assayed enzymes in routine clinical practice. Due to its close relation to a variety of pathological processes, ALP's abnormal level is an important diagnostic biomarker of many human diseases, such as liver dysfunction, bone diseases, kidney acute injury, and cancer. Therefore, the development of convenient and reliable assay methods for monitoring ALP activity/level is extremely important and valuable, not only for clinical diagnoses but also in the area of biomedical research. This paper comprehensively reviews the strategies of optical and electrochemical detection of ALP and discusses the electrochemical techniques that have been addressed to make them suitable for ALP analysis in cell culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanih Balbaied
- University College Cork, Sensing & Separation Group, School of Chemistry and life Science Interface, Tyndall National Institute, T12R5CP Cork, Ireland
| | - Eric Moore
- University College Cork, Sensing & Separation Group, School of Chemistry and life Science Interface, Tyndall National Institute, T12R5CP Cork, Ireland.
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Abstract
Liposomes are versatile carriers of drugs or biomolecules and are ideally suited to transport molecules into cells. However, mechanistic studies to understand and improve the fusion of liposomes with cell membranes and endosomes are difficult. Here, we report a method that allows for stable coimmobilization of liposomes and living cells, thereby bringing the membranes into close contact, which is essential for membrane fusion. The small unilamellar liposomes are tethered to the surface by a linker so that no modification of the liposome membrane for cell binding is required. The cells are positioned above the liposomes by posts that are integrated into the microfluidic device, and a pH drop induces the fusion of the cell-liposome membranes. Both membrane fusion and release of molecules into the cytosol are visualized by fluorescence dequenching assays. Furthermore, we proved the efficient delivery of the enzyme β-galactosidase into the cells when a fusogenic liposome composition was used. The device could be used for fusion studies but is also a versatile means for cell transfection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillip Kuhn
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Eth Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Klaus Eyer
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Eth Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Petra S Dittrich
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Eth Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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