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Moon BU, Li K, Malic L, Morton K, Shao H, Banh L, Viswanathan S, Young EWK, Veres T. Reversible bonding in thermoplastic elastomer microfluidic platforms for harvestable 3D microvessel networks. LAB ON A CHIP 2024. [PMID: 39291591 DOI: 10.1039/d4lc00530a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/19/2024]
Abstract
Transplantable ready-made microvessels have therapeutic potential for tissue regeneration and cell replacement therapy. Inspired by the natural rapid angiogenic sprouting of microvessels in vivo, engineered injectable 3D microvessel networks are created using thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) microfluidic devices. The TPE material used here is flexible, optically transparent, and can be robustly yet reversibly bonded to a variety of plastic substrates, making it a versatile choice for microfluidic device fabrication because it overcomes the weak self-adhesion properties and limited manufacturing options of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). By leveraging the reversible bonding characteristics of TPE material templates, we present their utility as an organ-on-a-chip platform for forming and handling microvessel networks, and demonstrate their potential for animal-free tissue generation and transplantation in clinical applications. We first show that TPE-based devices have nearly 6-fold higher bonding strength during the cell culture step compared to PDMS-based devices while simultaneously maintaining a full reversible bond to (PS) culture plates, which are widely used for biological cell studies. We also demonstrate the successful generation of perfusable and interconnected 3D microvessel networks using TPE-PS microfluidic devices on both single and multi-vessel loading platforms. Importantly, after removing the TPE slab, microvessel networks remain intact on the PS substrate without any structural damage and can be effectively harvested following gel digestion. The TPE-based organ-on-a-chip platform offers substantial advantages by facilitating the harvesting procedure and maintaining the integrity of microfluidic-engineered microvessels for transplant. To the best of our knowledge, our TPE-based reversible bonding approach marks the first confirmation of successful retrieval of organ-specific vessel segments from the reversibly-bonded TPE microfluidic platform. We anticipate that the method will find applications in organ-on-a-chip and microphysiological system research, particularly in tissue analysis and vessel engraftment, where flexible and reversible bonding can be utilized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byeong-Ui Moon
- Medical Devices, Life Sciences Division, National Research Council of Canada, Boucherville, QC J4B 6Y4, Canada.
- Center for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies (CRAFT), Toronto, ON M5S 3G8, Canada
| | - Kebin Li
- Medical Devices, Life Sciences Division, National Research Council of Canada, Boucherville, QC J4B 6Y4, Canada.
- Center for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies (CRAFT), Toronto, ON M5S 3G8, Canada
| | - Lidija Malic
- Medical Devices, Life Sciences Division, National Research Council of Canada, Boucherville, QC J4B 6Y4, Canada.
- Center for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies (CRAFT), Toronto, ON M5S 3G8, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Keith Morton
- Medical Devices, Life Sciences Division, National Research Council of Canada, Boucherville, QC J4B 6Y4, Canada.
- Center for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies (CRAFT), Toronto, ON M5S 3G8, Canada
| | - Han Shao
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G8, Canada
| | - Lauren Banh
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
- Osteoarthritis Research Program, Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Schroeder Arthritis Institute, University Health Network, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Sowmya Viswanathan
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
- Osteoarthritis Research Program, Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Schroeder Arthritis Institute, University Health Network, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Edmond W K Young
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G8, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Teodor Veres
- Medical Devices, Life Sciences Division, National Research Council of Canada, Boucherville, QC J4B 6Y4, Canada.
- Center for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies (CRAFT), Toronto, ON M5S 3G8, Canada
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G8, Canada
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2
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Ratanpara A, Kim M, Kim YJ, Hidrovo CH. Spectral Characteristics of Water-Soluble Rhodamine Derivatives for Laser-Induced Fluorescence. J Fluoresc 2024:10.1007/s10895-024-03819-1. [PMID: 38954086 DOI: 10.1007/s10895-024-03819-1] [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: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
We present a comprehensive fluorescence characterization of seven water-soluble rhodamine derivatives for applications in laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) techniques. Absorption and emission spectra for these dyes are presented over the visible spectrum of wavelengths (400 to 700 nm). Their fluorescence properties were also investigated as a function of temperature for LIF thermometry applications. Rhodamine 110 depicted the least fluorescence emission sensitivity to temperature at -0.11%/°C, while rhodamine B depicted the most with a -1.55%/°C. We found that the absorption spectra of these molecules are independent of temperature, supporting the notion that the temperature sensitivity of their emission only comes from changes in quantum yield with temperature. Conversely, these rhodamine fluorophores showed no change in emission intensities with pH variations and are, therefore, not suitable tracers for pH measurements. Similarly, fluorescent lifetime, which is also a property sensitive to local environmental changes in temperature, pH, and ion concentration, measurements were conducted for these fluorophores. It was found that rhodamine B and kiton red 620 have shorter fluorescence timescales compared to those of the other five rhodamine dyes, making them least suitable for applications where temporal changes in emission are monitored. Lastly, we conducted experiments to assess the physicochemical absorption characteristics of these dyes' molecules into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), the most common material for microfluidic devices. Rhodamine B showed the highest diffusion into PDMS substrates as compared to the other derivative dyes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Ratanpara
- Ocean and Mechanical Engineering, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA
| | - Myeongsub Kim
- Ocean and Mechanical Engineering, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA.
| | - Yeo Jun Kim
- Multiscale Thermal Fluids Laboratory, Mechanical Engineering Department, The University of Texas at Austin, 204 E. Dean Keeton, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Carlos H Hidrovo
- Multiscale Thermal Fluids Laboratory, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
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3
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Du C, Liu J, Liu S, Xiao P, Chen Z, Chen H, Huang W, Lei Y. Bone and Joint-on-Chip Platforms: Construction Strategies and Applications. SMALL METHODS 2024:e2400436. [PMID: 38763918 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202400436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Organ-on-a-chip, also known as "tissue chip," is an advanced platform based on microfluidic systems for constructing miniature organ models in vitro. They can replicate the complex physiological and pathological responses of human organs. In recent years, the development of bone and joint-on-chip platforms aims to simulate the complex physiological and pathological processes occurring in human bones and joints, including cell-cell interactions, the interplay of various biochemical factors, the effects of mechanical stimuli, and the intricate connections between multiple organs. In the future, bone and joint-on-chip platforms will integrate the advantages of multiple disciplines, bringing more possibilities for exploring disease mechanisms, drug screening, and personalized medicine. This review explores the construction and application of Organ-on-a-chip technology in bone and joint disease research, proposes a modular construction concept, and discusses the new opportunities and future challenges in the construction and application of bone and joint-on-chip platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengcheng Du
- Department of Orthopedics, Orthopedic Laboratory of Chongqing Medical University, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Jiacheng Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, Orthopedic Laboratory of Chongqing Medical University, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Senrui Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, Orthopedic Laboratory of Chongqing Medical University, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Pengcheng Xiao
- Department of Orthopedics, Orthopedic Laboratory of Chongqing Medical University, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Zhuolin Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Orthopedic Laboratory of Chongqing Medical University, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Hong Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Orthopedic Laboratory of Chongqing Medical University, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Wei Huang
- Department of Orthopedics, Orthopedic Laboratory of Chongqing Medical University, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Yiting Lei
- Department of Orthopedics, Orthopedic Laboratory of Chongqing Medical University, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
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4
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Zhang Y, Wu X, Vadlamani RA, Lim Y, Kim J, David K, Gilbert E, Li Y, Wang R, Jiang S, Wang A, Sontheimer H, English DF, Emori S, Davalos RV, Poelzing S, Jia X. Submillimeter Multifunctional Ferromagnetic Fiber Robots for Navigation, Sensing, and Modulation. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2300964. [PMID: 37473719 PMCID: PMC10799194 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202300964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Small-scale robots capable of remote active steering and navigation offer great potential for biomedical applications. However, the current design and manufacturing procedure impede their miniaturization and integration of various diagnostic and therapeutic functionalities. Herein, submillimeter fiber robots that can integrate navigation, sensing, and modulation functions are presented. These fiber robots are fabricated through a scalable thermal drawing process at a speed of 4 meters per minute, which enables the integration of ferromagnetic, electrical, optical, and microfluidic composite with an overall diameter of as small as 250 µm and a length of as long as 150 m. The fiber tip deflection angle can reach up to 54o under a uniform magnetic field of 45 mT. These fiber robots can navigate through complex and constrained environments, such as artificial vessels and brain phantoms. Moreover, Langendorff mouse hearts model, glioblastoma micro platforms, and in vivo mouse models are utilized to demonstrate the capabilities of sensing electrophysiology signals and performing a localized treatment. Additionally, it is demonstrated that the fiber robots can serve as endoscopes with embedded waveguides. These fiber robots provide a versatile platform for targeted multimodal detection and treatment at hard-to-reach locations in a minimally invasive and remotely controllable manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujing Zhang
- Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Xiaobo Wu
- Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Graduate Program, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
- Center for Heart and Reparative Medicine Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
| | - Ram Anand Vadlamani
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Youngmin Lim
- Department of Physics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Jongwoon Kim
- Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Kailee David
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Earl Gilbert
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - You Li
- Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Ruixuan Wang
- Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Shan Jiang
- Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Anbo Wang
- Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Harald Sontheimer
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22903, USA
| | | | - Satoru Emori
- Department of Physics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Rafael V Davalos
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Steven Poelzing
- Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Graduate Program, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
- Center for Heart and Reparative Medicine Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
| | - Xiaoting Jia
- Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
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5
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Sang M, Kim K, Shin J, Yu KJ. Ultra-Thin Flexible Encapsulating Materials for Soft Bio-Integrated Electronics. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2202980. [PMID: 36031395 PMCID: PMC9596833 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202202980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Recently, bioelectronic devices extensively researched and developed through the convergence of flexible biocompatible materials and electronics design that enables more precise diagnostics and therapeutics in human health care and opens up the potential to expand into various fields, such as clinical medicine and biomedical research. To establish an accurate and stable bidirectional bio-interface, protection against the external environment and high mechanical deformation is essential for wearable bioelectronic devices. In the case of implantable bioelectronics, special encapsulation materials and optimized mechanical designs and configurations that provide electronic stability and functionality are required for accommodating various organ properties, lifespans, and functions in the biofluid environment. Here, this study introduces recent developments of ultra-thin encapsulations with novel materials that can preserve or even improve the electrical performance of wearable and implantable bio-integrated electronics by supporting safety and stability for protection from destruction and contamination as well as optimizing the use of bioelectronic systems in physiological environments. In addition, a summary of the materials, methods, and characteristics of the most widely used encapsulation technologies is introduced, thereby providing a strategic selection of appropriate choices of recently developed flexible bioelectronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyu Sang
- School of Electrical and Electronic EngineeringYonsei University50 Yonsei‐ro, SeodaemunguSeoul03722Republic of Korea
| | - Kyubeen Kim
- School of Electrical and Electronic EngineeringYonsei University50 Yonsei‐ro, SeodaemunguSeoul03722Republic of Korea
| | - Jongwoon Shin
- School of Electrical and Electronic EngineeringYonsei University50 Yonsei‐ro, SeodaemunguSeoul03722Republic of Korea
| | - Ki Jun Yu
- School of Electrical and Electronic EngineeringYonsei University50 Yonsei‐ro, SeodaemunguSeoul03722Republic of Korea
- YU‐KIST InstituteYonsei University50 Yonsei‐ro, SeodaemunguSeoul03722Republic of Korea
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6
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Toto E, Laurenzi S, Santonicola MG. Recent Trends in Graphene/Polymer Nanocomposites for Sensing Devices: Synthesis and Applications in Environmental and Human Health Monitoring. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:1030. [PMID: 35267853 PMCID: PMC8914833 DOI: 10.3390/polym14051030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Graphene-based nanocomposites are largely explored for the development of sensing devices due to the excellent electrical and mechanical properties of graphene. These properties, in addition to its large specific surface area, make graphene attractive for a wide range of chemical functionalization and immobilization of (bio)molecules. Several techniques based on both top-down and bottom-up approaches are available for the fabrication of graphene fillers in pristine and functionalized forms. These fillers can be further modified to enhance their integration with polymeric matrices and substrates and to tailor the sensing efficiency of the overall nanocomposite material. In this review article, we summarize recent trends in the design and fabrication of graphene/polymer nanocomposites (GPNs) with sensing properties that can be successfully applied in environmental and human health monitoring. Functional GPNs with sensing ability towards gas molecules, humidity, and ultraviolet radiation can be generated using graphene nanosheets decorated with metallic or metal oxide nanoparticles. These nanocomposites were shown to be effective in the detection of ammonia, benzene/toluene gases, and water vapor in the environment. In addition, biological analytes with broad implications for human health, such as nucleic bases or viral genes, can also be detected using sensitive, graphene-based polymer nanocomposites. Here, the role of the biomolecules that are immobilized on the graphene nanomaterial as target for sensing is reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Toto
- Department of Chemical Engineering Materials Environment, Sapienza University of Rome, Via del Castro Laurenziano 7, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Susanna Laurenzi
- Department of Astronautical Electrical and Energy Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Salaria 851-881, 00138 Rome, Italy;
| | - Maria Gabriella Santonicola
- Department of Chemical Engineering Materials Environment, Sapienza University of Rome, Via del Castro Laurenziano 7, 00161 Rome, Italy;
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7
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Tamargo MA, Nash TR, Fleischer S, Kim Y, Vila OF, Yeager K, Summers M, Zhao Y, Lock R, Chavez M, Costa T, Vunjak-Novakovic G. milliPillar: A Platform for the Generation and Real-Time Assessment of Human Engineered Cardiac Tissues. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2021; 7:5215-5229. [PMID: 34668692 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.1c01006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Engineered cardiac tissues derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are increasingly used for drug discovery, pharmacology and in models of development and disease. While there are numerous platforms to engineer cardiac tissues, they often require expensive and nonconventional equipment and utilize complex video-processing algorithms. As a result, only specialized academic laboratories have been able to harness this technology. In addition, methodologies and tissue features have been challenging to reproduce between different groups and models. Here, we describe a facile technology (milliPillar) that covers the entire pipeline required for studies of engineered cardiac tissues. We include methodologies for (i) platform fabrication, (ii) cardiac tissue generation, (iii) electrical stimulation, (iv) automated real-time data acquisition, and (v) advanced video analyses. We validate these methodologies and demonstrate the versatility of the platform by showcasing the fabrication of tissues in different hydrogel materials and using cardiomyocytes derived from different iPSC lines in combination with different types of stromal cells. We also validate the long-term culture of tissues within the platform and provide protocols for automated analysis of force generation and calcium flux using both brightfield and fluorescence imaging. Lastly, we demonstrate the compatibility of the milliPillar platform with electromechanical stimulation to enhance cardiac tissue function. We expect that this resource will provide a valuable and user-friendly tool for the generation and real-time assessment of engineered human cardiac tissues for basic and translational studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Alejandro Tamargo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, VC12-234, New York, New York 10032, United States.,Department of Medicine, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, VC12-234, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Trevor Ray Nash
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, VC12-234, New York, New York 10032, United States.,Department of Medicine, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, VC12-234, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Sharon Fleischer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, VC12-234, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Youngbin Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, VC12-234, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Olaia Fernandez Vila
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, VC12-234, New York, New York 10032, United States.,Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Keith Yeager
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, VC12-234, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Max Summers
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, VC12-234, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Yimu Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, VC12-234, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Roberta Lock
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, VC12-234, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Miguel Chavez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, VC12-234, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Troy Costa
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, VC12-234, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, VC12-234, New York, New York 10032, United States.,Department of Medicine, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, VC12-234, New York, New York 10032, United States
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8
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Zhang P, Shao N, Qin L. Recent Advances in Microfluidic Platforms for Programming Cell-Based Living Materials. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2021; 33:e2005944. [PMID: 34270839 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202005944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Cell-based living materials, including single cells, cell-laden fibers, cell sheets, organoids, and organs, have attracted intensive interests owing to their widespread applications in cancer therapy, regenerative medicine, drug development, and so on. Significant progress in materials, microfabrication, and cell biology have promoted the development of numerous promising microfluidic platforms for programming these cell-based living materials with a high-throughput, scalable, and efficient manner. In this review, the recent progress of novel microfluidic platforms for programming cell-based living materials is presented. First, the unique features, categories, and materials and related fabrication methods of microfluidic platforms are briefly introduced. From the viewpoint of the design principles of the microfluidic platforms, the recent significant advances of programming single cells, cell-laden fibers, cell sheets, organoids, and organs in turns are then highlighted. Last, by providing personal perspectives on challenges and future trends, this review aims to motivate researchers from the fields of materials and engineering to work together with biologists and physicians to promote the development of cell-based living materials for human healthcare-related applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengchao Zhang
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Ning Shao
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Lidong Qin
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, 10065, USA
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9
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Schneider S, Bubeck M, Rogal J, Weener HJ, Rojas C, Weiss M, Heymann M, van der Meer AD, Loskill P. Peristaltic on-chip pump for tunable media circulation and whole blood perfusion in PDMS-free organ-on-chip and Organ-Disc systems. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:3963-3978. [PMID: 34636813 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00494h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Organ-on-chip (OoC) systems have become a promising tool for personalized medicine and drug development with advantages over conventional animal models and cell assays. However, the utility of OoCs in industrial settings is still limited, as external pumps and tubing for on-chip fluid transport are dependent on error-prone, manual handling. Here, we present an on-chip pump for OoC and Organ-Disc systems, to perfuse media without external pumps or tubing. Peristaltic pumping is implemented through periodic compression of a flexible pump layer. The disc-shaped, microfluidic module contains four independent systems, each lined with endothelial cells cultured under defined, peristaltic perfusion. Both cell viability and functionality were maintained over several days shown by supernatant analysis and immunostaining. Integrated, on-disc perfusion was further used for cytokine-induced cell activation with physiologic cell responses and for whole blood perfusion assays, both demonstrating the versatility of our system for OoC applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Schneider
- Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Marvin Bubeck
- Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB, Stuttgart, Germany
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomolecular Systems, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Julia Rogal
- Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB, Stuttgart, Germany
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Huub J Weener
- Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB, Stuttgart, Germany
- Applied Stem Cell Technologies, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Cristhian Rojas
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Martin Weiss
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, Reutlingen, Germany
- Department of Women's Health, Faculty of Medicine, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Michael Heymann
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomolecular Systems, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | | | - Peter Loskill
- Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB, Stuttgart, Germany
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, Reutlingen, Germany
- 3R-Center for in vitro Models and Alternatives to Animal Testing, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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10
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Schneider S, Brás EJS, Schneider O, Schlünder K, Loskill P. Facile Patterning of Thermoplastic Elastomers and Robust Bonding to Glass and Thermoplastics for Microfluidic Cell Culture and Organ-on-Chip. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:575. [PMID: 34070209 PMCID: PMC8158514 DOI: 10.3390/mi12050575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The emergence and spread of microfluidics over the last decades relied almost exclusively on the elastomer polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The main reason for the success of PDMS in the field of microfluidic research is its suitability for rapid prototyping and simple bonding methods. PDMS allows for precise microstructuring by replica molding and bonding to different substrates through various established strategies. However, large-scale production and commercialization efforts are hindered by the low scalability of PDMS-based chip fabrication and high material costs. Furthermore, fundamental limitations of PDMS, such as small molecule absorption and high water evaporation, have resulted in a shift toward PDMS-free systems. Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) are a promising alternative, combining properties from both thermoplastic materials and elastomers. Here, we present a rapid and scalable fabrication method for microfluidic systems based on a polycarbonate (PC) and TPE hybrid material. Microstructured PC/TPE-hybrid modules are generated by hot embossing precise features into the TPE while simultaneously fusing the flexible TPE to a rigid thermoplastic layer through thermal fusion bonding. Compared to TPE alone, the resulting, more rigid composite material improves device handling while maintaining the key advantages of TPE. In a fast and simple process, the PC/TPE-hybrid can be bonded to several types of thermoplastics as well as glass substrates. The resulting bond strength withstands at least 7.5 bar of applied pressure, even after seven days of exposure to a high-temperature and humid environment, which makes the PC/TPE-hybrid suitable for most microfluidic applications. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the PC/TPE-hybrid features low absorption of small molecules while being biocompatible, making it a suitable material for microfluidic biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Schneider
- Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany; (S.S.); (O.S.)
| | - Eduardo J. S. Brás
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany; (E.J.S.B.); (K.S.)
| | - Oliver Schneider
- Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany; (S.S.); (O.S.)
| | - Katharina Schlünder
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany; (E.J.S.B.); (K.S.)
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Peter Loskill
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany; (E.J.S.B.); (K.S.)
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- 3R Center Tübingen for In Vitro Models and Alternatives to Animal Testing, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
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11
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McMillan AH, Mora‐Macías J, Teyssandier J, Thür R, Roy E, Ochoa I, De Feyter S, Vankelecom IFJ, Roeffaers MBJ, Lesher‐Pérez SC. Self‐sealing thermoplastic fluoroelastomer enables rapid fabrication of modular microreactors. NANO SELECT 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/nano.202000241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander H. McMillan
- Elvesys Microfluidics Innovation Center Paris France
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems Centre for Membrane Separations Adsorption, Catalysis and Spectroscopy for Sustainable Solutions (cMACS) KU Leuven Leuven Belgium
| | - Juan Mora‐Macías
- Department of Mining, Mechanical, Energy and Construction Engineering University of Huelva Huelva Spain
| | - Joan Teyssandier
- Division of Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Department of Chemistry KU Leuven Leuven Belgium
| | - Raymond Thür
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems Centre for Membrane Separations Adsorption, Catalysis and Spectroscopy for Sustainable Solutions (cMACS) KU Leuven Leuven Belgium
| | | | - Ignacio Ochoa
- Tissue Microenvironment Lab (TME) Aragón Institute of Engineering Research (I3A Institute for Health Research Aragon (IIS Aragón Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER‐BBN) University of Zaragoza Zaragoza Spain
| | - Steven De Feyter
- Division of Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Department of Chemistry KU Leuven Leuven Belgium
| | - Ivo F. J. Vankelecom
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems Centre for Membrane Separations Adsorption, Catalysis and Spectroscopy for Sustainable Solutions (cMACS) KU Leuven Leuven Belgium
| | - Maarten B. J. Roeffaers
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems Centre for Membrane Separations Adsorption, Catalysis and Spectroscopy for Sustainable Solutions (cMACS) KU Leuven Leuven Belgium
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12
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Zamprogno P, Wüthrich S, Achenbach S, Thoma G, Stucki JD, Hobi N, Schneider-Daum N, Lehr CM, Huwer H, Geiser T, Schmid RA, Guenat OT. Second-generation lung-on-a-chip with an array of stretchable alveoli made with a biological membrane. Commun Biol 2021; 4:168. [PMID: 33547387 PMCID: PMC7864995 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01695-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The air-blood barrier with its complex architecture and dynamic environment is difficult to mimic in vitro. Lung-on-a-chips enable mimicking the breathing movements using a thin, stretchable PDMS membrane. However, they fail to reproduce the characteristic alveoli network as well as the biochemical and physical properties of the alveolar basal membrane. Here, we present a lung-on-a-chip, based on a biological, stretchable and biodegradable membrane made of collagen and elastin, that emulates an array of tiny alveoli with in vivo-like dimensions. This membrane outperforms PDMS in many ways: it does not absorb rhodamine-B, is biodegradable, is created by a simple method, and can easily be tuned to modify its thickness, composition and stiffness. The air-blood barrier is reconstituted using primary lung alveolar epithelial cells from patients and primary lung endothelial cells. Typical alveolar epithelial cell markers are expressed, while the barrier properties are preserved for up to 3 weeks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Zamprogno
- Organs-on-Chip Technologies Laboratory, ARTORG Center, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Simon Wüthrich
- Organs-on-Chip Technologies Laboratory, ARTORG Center, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sven Achenbach
- Organs-on-Chip Technologies Laboratory, ARTORG Center, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Giuditta Thoma
- Organs-on-Chip Technologies Laboratory, ARTORG Center, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Janick D Stucki
- Organs-on-Chip Technologies Laboratory, ARTORG Center, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- AlveoliX AG, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nina Hobi
- Organs-on-Chip Technologies Laboratory, ARTORG Center, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- AlveoliX AG, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nicole Schneider-Daum
- Drug Delivery (DDEL), Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Claus-Michael Lehr
- Drug Delivery (DDEL), Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Hanno Huwer
- SHG Clinics, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Völklingen Heart Center, Völklingen, Germany
| | - Thomas Geiser
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ralph A Schmid
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Olivier T Guenat
- Organs-on-Chip Technologies Laboratory, ARTORG Center, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
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13
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Rapid Fabrication of Membrane-Integrated Thermoplastic Elastomer Microfluidic Devices. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:mi11080731. [PMID: 32731570 PMCID: PMC7463978 DOI: 10.3390/mi11080731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 07/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Leveraging the advantageous material properties of recently developed soft thermoplastic elastomer materials, this work presents the facile and rapid fabrication of composite membrane-integrated microfluidic devices consisting of FlexdymTM polymer and commercially available porous polycarbonate membranes. The three-layer devices can be fabricated in under 2.5 h, consisting of a 2-min hot embossing cycle, conformal contact between device layers and a low-temperature baking step. The strength of the FlexdymTM-polycarbonate seal was characterized using a specialized microfluidic delamination device and an automated pressure controller configuration, offering a standardized and high-throughput method of microfluidic burst testing. Given a minimum bonding distance of 200 μm, the materials showed bonding that reliably withstood pressures of 500 mbar and above, which is sufficient for most microfluidic cell culture applications. Bonding was also stable when subjected to long term pressurization (10 h) and repeated use (10,000 pressure cycles). Cell culture trials confirmed good cell adhesion and sustained culture of human dermal fibroblasts on a polycarbonate membrane inside the device channels over the course of one week. In comparison to existing porous membrane-based microfluidic platforms of this configuration, most often made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), these devices offer a streamlined fabrication methodology with materials having favourable properties for cell culture applications and the potential for implementation in barrier model organ-on-chips.
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14
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Tetrafluoroethylene-Propylene Elastomer for Fabrication of Microfluidic Organs-on-Chips Resistant to Drug Absorption. MICROMACHINES 2019; 10:mi10110793. [PMID: 31752314 PMCID: PMC6915658 DOI: 10.3390/mi10110793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Organs-on-chips are microfluidic devices typically fabricated from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Since PDMS has many attractive properties including high optical clarity and compliance, PDMS is very useful for cell culture applications; however, PDMS possesses a significant drawback in that small hydrophobic molecules are strongly absorbed. This drawback hinders widespread use of PDMS-based devices for drug discovery and development. Here, we describe a microfluidic cell culture system made of a tetrafluoroethylene-propylene (FEPM) elastomer. We demonstrated that FEPM does not absorb small hydrophobic compounds including rhodamine B and three types of drugs, nifedipine, coumarin, and Bay K8644, whereas PDMS absorbs them strongly. The device consists of two FEPM layers of microchannels separated by a thin collagen vitrigel membrane. Since FEPM is flexible and biocompatible, this microfluidic device can be used to culture cells while applying mechanical strain. When human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were subjected to cyclic strain (~10%) for 4 h in this device, HUVECs reoriented and aligned perpendicularly in response to the cyclic stretch. Moreover, we demonstrated that this device can be used to replicate the epithelial–endothelial interface as well as to provide physiological mechanical strain and fluid flow. This method offers a robust platform to produce organs-on-chips for drug discovery and development.
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15
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Musah S, Dimitrakakis N, Camacho DM, Church GM, Ingber DE. Directed differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells into mature kidney podocytes and establishment of a Glomerulus Chip. Nat Protoc 2019; 13:1662-1685. [PMID: 29995874 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-018-0007-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Protocols have been established to direct the differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells into nephron progenitor cells and organoids containing many types of kidney cells, but it has been difficult to direct the differentiation of iPS cells to form specific types of mature human kidney cells with high yield. Here, we describe a detailed protocol for the directed differentiation of human iPS cells into mature, post-mitotic kidney glomerular podocytes with high (>90%) efficiency within 26 d and under chemically defined conditions, without genetic manipulations or subpopulation selection. We also describe how these iPS cell-derived podocytes may be induced to form within a microfluidic organ-on-a-chip (Organ Chip) culture device to build a human kidney Glomerulus Chip that mimics the structure and function of the kidney glomerular capillary wall in vitro within 35 d (starting with undifferentiated iPS cells). The podocyte differentiation protocol requires skills for culturing iPS cells, and the development of a Glomerulus Chip requires some experience with building and operating microfluidic cell culture systems. This method could be useful for applications in nephrotoxicity screening, therapeutic development, and regenerative medicine, as well as mechanistic study of kidney development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samira Musah
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nikolaos Dimitrakakis
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Diogo M Camacho
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - George M Church
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Donald E Ingber
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA. .,Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. .,Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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16
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Lin DSY, Guo F, Zhang B. Modeling organ-specific vasculature with organ-on-a-chip devices. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2019; 30:024002. [PMID: 30395536 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/aae7de] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Organ-on-a-chip devices, also known as microphysiological systems, have gained significant attention in recent years. Recent advances in tissue engineering and microfabrication have enabled these devices to provide more precise control over cellular microenvironments to mimic the tissue-level or organ-level function of the human body. These more complex tissue models can provide either an improvement in the functional expression and maturation of cells or an avenue to probe biological events and function that would otherwise be difficult to visualize and mechanistically study. This high-value information, when complimented with the existing gold-standards of cell-based assays and animal models, could potentially lead to more informed decision-making in drug development. A prevalent biological component in many organ-on-a-chip devices is an engineered vascular interface that is present in almost all organs of the human body. The vasculature and the vascular interface are particularly susceptible to biomechanical forces, they function as the conduits for inter-cellular and inter-organ interactions, and regulate drug transport. In this review, we examine the various approaches taken to model the human vasculature with an emphasis on the engineering of organ-specific vasculatures, and discuss various challenges and opportunities ahead as the field advances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawn S Y Lin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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17
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Li X, George SM, Vernetti L, Gough AH, Taylor DL. A glass-based, continuously zonated and vascularized human liver acinus microphysiological system (vLAMPS) designed for experimental modeling of diseases and ADME/TOX. LAB ON A CHIP 2018; 18:2614-2631. [PMID: 30063238 PMCID: PMC6113686 DOI: 10.1039/c8lc00418h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The vLAMPS is a human, biomimetic liver MPS, in which the ECM and cell seeding of the intermediate layer prior to assembly, simplifies construction of the model and makes the platform user-friendly. This primarily glass microfluidic device is optimal for real-time imaging, while minimizing the binding of hydrophobic drugs/biologics to the materials that constitute the device. The assembly of the three layered device with primary human hepatocytes and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs), and human cell lines for stellate and Kupffer cells, creates a vascular channel separated from the hepatic channel (chamber) by a porous membrane that allows communication between channels, recapitulating the 3D structure of the liver acinus. The vascular channel can be used to deliver drugs, immune cells, as well as various circulating cells and other factors to a stand-alone liver MPS and/or to couple the liver MPS to other organ MPS. We have successfully created continuous oxygen zonation by controlling the flow rates of media in the distinct vascular and hepatic channels and validated the computational modeling of zonation with oxygen sensitive and insensitive beads. This allows the direct investigation of the role of zonation in physiology, toxicology and disease progression. The vascular channel is lined with human LSECs, recapitulating partial immunologic functions within the liver sinusoid, including the activation of LSECs, promoting the binding of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) followed by transmigration into the hepatic chamber. The vLAMPS is a valuable platform to investigate the functions of the healthy and diseased human liver using all primary human cell types and/or iPSC-derived cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Li
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
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18
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Shao W, Lim CK, Li Q, Swihart MT, Prasad PN. Dramatic Enhancement of Quantum Cutting in Lanthanide-Doped Nanocrystals Photosensitized with an Aggregation-Induced Enhanced Emission Dye. NANO LETTERS 2018; 18:4922-4926. [PMID: 29936831 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.8b01724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Applications of multiphoton processes in lanthanide-doped nanophosphors (NPs) are often limited by relatively weak and narrow absorbance. Here, the concept of an ultimate photosensitization by aggregation-induced enhanced emission (AIEE) dyes to overcome this limitation is introduced. Because AIEE dyes do not suffer from concentration quenching, they can fully cover the NP surface at high density to maximize absorbance while passivating the surface. This concept is applied to multiphoton down-conversion by quantum cutting. Specifically, coating Yb3+/Tb3+-doped NPs with an AIEE dye designed for efficient energy transfer and attachment to the NPs produces a 2260-fold enhancement of multiphoton down-conversion by quantum cutting with remarkable photostability. In a prototypical application, the quantum cutting of UV photons to near-infrared photons that are matched to the band gap of a silicon solar cell produces an average 4% increase in efficiency under concentrated solar illumination. This provides a general strategy for NP photosensitization that can be applied to both multiphoton up- and down-conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Shao
- Department of Chemical Engineering , Zhejiang University of Technology , Hangzhou 3100314 , PR China
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Rodríguez-Ruiz I, Lamadie F, Charton S. Uranium(VI) On-Chip Microliter Concentration Measurements in a Highly Extended UV-Visible Absorbance Linearity Range. Anal Chem 2018; 90:2456-2460. [PMID: 29327582 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.7b05162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The reduction of effluents deriving from analytical control is a serious concern in the nuclear industry, for both production and R&D units. In this work we report an alternative methodology for the standard UV-vis absorbance analyses for actinides concentration monitoring along the plutonium uranium refining extraction (PUREX) process. This methodology, based on photonic lab-on-a-chip (PhLoC) technology, enables drastic sampling reduction down to a few microliters and simultaneously allows to track concentrations over several orders of magnitude while maintaining a detection linearity range. A PhLoC microfluidic platform was specifically designed to allow online sample injection with zero dead volume connectivity and the on-chip spectrophotometric approach, based on a multiple optical path configuration, was tested for the determination of uranium(VI) concentrations from 0.1 to 200 g L-1, showing that linearity is maintained within high levels of confidence. These results provide the proof of concept for the transposition of current analytical methods for actinides, including plutonium, to microfluidic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac Rodríguez-Ruiz
- CEA, DEN , Research Department on Mining and Fuel Recycling Processes, SA2I, 30207 Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France
| | - Fabrice Lamadie
- CEA, DEN , Research Department on Mining and Fuel Recycling Processes, SA2I, 30207 Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France
| | - Sophie Charton
- CEA, DEN , Research Department on Mining and Fuel Recycling Processes, SA2I, 30207 Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France
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Skin electronics from scalable fabrication of an intrinsically stretchable transistor array. Nature 2018; 555:83-88. [DOI: 10.1038/nature25494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1179] [Impact Index Per Article: 196.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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Innovative organotypic in vitro models for safety assessment: aligning with regulatory requirements and understanding models of the heart, skin, and liver as paradigms. Arch Toxicol 2018; 92:557-569. [PMID: 29362863 PMCID: PMC5818581 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-018-2152-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The development of improved, innovative models for the detection of toxicity of drugs, chemicals, or chemicals in cosmetics is crucial to efficiently bring new products safely to market in a cost-effective and timely manner. In addition, improvement in models to detect toxicity may reduce the incidence of unexpected post-marketing toxicity and reduce or eliminate the need for animal testing. The safety of novel products of the pharmaceutical, chemical, or cosmetics industry must be assured; therefore, toxicological properties need to be assessed. Accepted methods for gathering the information required by law for approval of substances are often animal methods. To reduce, refine, and replace animal testing, innovative organotypic in vitro models have emerged. Such models appear at different levels of complexity ranging from simpler, self-organized three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures up to more advanced scaffold-based co-cultures consisting of multiple cell types. This review provides an overview of recent developments in the field of toxicity testing with in vitro models for three major organ types: heart, skin, and liver. This review also examines regulatory aspects of such models in Europe and the UK, and summarizes best practices to facilitate the acceptance and appropriate use of advanced in vitro models.
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Nawroth J, Rogal J, Weiss M, Brucker SY, Loskill P. Organ-on-a-Chip Systems for Women's Health Applications. Adv Healthc Mater 2018; 7. [PMID: 28985032 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201700550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2017] [Revised: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Biomedical research, for a long time, has paid little attention to the influence of sex in many areas of study, ranging from molecular and cellular biology to animal models and clinical studies on human subjects. Many studies solely rely on male cells/tissues/animals/humans, although there are profound differences in male and female physiology, which can significantly impact disease mechanisms, toxicity of compounds, and efficacy of pharmaceuticals. In vitro systems have been traditionally very limited in their capacity to recapitulate female-specific physiology and anatomy such as dynamic sex-hormone levels and the complex interdependencies of female reproductive tract organs. However, the advent of microphysiological organ-on-a-chip systems, which attempt to recreate the 3D structure and function of human organs, now gives researchers the opportunity to integrate cells and tissues from a variety of individuals. Moreover, adding a dynamic flow environment allows mimicking endocrine signaling during the menstrual cycle and pregnancy, as well as providing a controlled microfluidic environment for pharmacokinetic modeling. This review gives an introduction into preclinical and clinical research on women's health and discusses where organ-on-a-chip systems are already utilized or have the potential to deliver new insights and enable entirely new types of studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julia Rogal
- Department of Cell and Tissue Engineering; Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB; Nobelstrasse 12 70569 Stuttgart Germany
| | - Martin Weiss
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics; University Medicine Tübingen; Calwerstrasse 7 72076 Tübingen Germany
| | - Sara Y. Brucker
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics; University Medicine Tübingen; Calwerstrasse 7 72076 Tübingen Germany
| | - Peter Loskill
- Department of Cell and Tissue Engineering; Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB; Nobelstrasse 12 70569 Stuttgart Germany
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Chen T, Gomez-Escoda B, Munoz-Garcia J, Babic J, Griscom L, Wu PYJ, Coudreuse D. A drug-compatible and temperature-controlled microfluidic device for live-cell imaging. Open Biol 2017; 6:rsob.160156. [PMID: 27512142 PMCID: PMC5008015 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.160156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Monitoring cellular responses to changes in growth conditions and perturbation of targeted pathways is integral to the investigation of biological processes. However, manipulating cells and their environment during live-cell-imaging experiments still represents a major challenge. While the coupling of microfluidics with microscopy has emerged as a powerful solution to this problem, this approach remains severely underexploited. Indeed, most microdevices rely on the polymer polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), which strongly absorbs a variety of molecules commonly used in cell biology. This effect of the microsystems on the cellular environment hampers our capacity to accurately modulate the composition of the medium and the concentration of specific compounds within the microchips, with implications for the reliability of these experiments. To overcome this critical issue, we developed new PDMS-free microdevices dedicated to live-cell imaging that show no interference with small molecules. They also integrate a module for maintaining precise sample temperature both above and below ambient as well as for rapid temperature shifts. Importantly, changes in medium composition and temperature can be efficiently achieved within the chips while recording cell behaviour by microscopy. Compatible with different model systems, our platforms provide a versatile solution for the dynamic regulation of the cellular environment during live-cell imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Chen
- SyntheCell team, Institute of Genetics and Development, CNRS UMR 6290, 2 avenue du Pr. Léon Bernard, 35043 Rennes, France
| | - Blanca Gomez-Escoda
- Genome Duplication and Maintenance team, Institute of Genetics and Development, CNRS UMR 6290, 2 avenue du Pr. Léon Bernard, 35043 Rennes, France
| | - Javier Munoz-Garcia
- SyntheCell team, Institute of Genetics and Development, CNRS UMR 6290, 2 avenue du Pr. Léon Bernard, 35043 Rennes, France
| | - Julien Babic
- SyntheCell team, Institute of Genetics and Development, CNRS UMR 6290, 2 avenue du Pr. Léon Bernard, 35043 Rennes, France
| | - Laurent Griscom
- SyntheCell team, Institute of Genetics and Development, CNRS UMR 6290, 2 avenue du Pr. Léon Bernard, 35043 Rennes, France
| | - Pei-Yun Jenny Wu
- Genome Duplication and Maintenance team, Institute of Genetics and Development, CNRS UMR 6290, 2 avenue du Pr. Léon Bernard, 35043 Rennes, France
| | - Damien Coudreuse
- SyntheCell team, Institute of Genetics and Development, CNRS UMR 6290, 2 avenue du Pr. Léon Bernard, 35043 Rennes, France
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Watson DE, Hunziker R, Wikswo JP. Fitting tissue chips and microphysiological systems into the grand scheme of medicine, biology, pharmacology, and toxicology. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2017; 242:1559-1572. [PMID: 29065799 DOI: 10.1177/1535370217732765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Microphysiological systems (MPS), which include engineered organoids (EOs), single organ/tissue chips (TCs), and multiple organs interconnected to create miniature in vitro models of human physiological systems, are rapidly becoming effective tools for drug development and the mechanistic understanding of tissue physiology and pathophysiology. The second MPS thematic issue of Experimental Biology and Medicine comprises 15 articles by scientists and engineers from the National Institutes of Health, the IQ Consortium, the Food and Drug Administration, and Environmental Protection Agency, an MPS company, and academia. Topics include the progress, challenges, and future of organs-on-chips, dissemination of TCs into Pharma, children's health protection, liver zonation, liver chips and their coupling to interconnected systems, gastrointestinal MPS, maturation of immature cardiomyocytes in a heart-on-a-chip, coculture of multiple cell types in a human skin construct, use of synthetic hydrogels to create EOs that form neural tissue models, the blood-brain barrier-on-a-chip, MPS models of coupled female reproductive organs, coupling MPS devices to create a body-on-a-chip, and the use of a microformulator to recapitulate endocrine circadian rhythms. While MPS hardware has been relatively stable since the last MPS thematic issue, there have been significant advances in cell sourcing, with increased reliance on human-induced pluripotent stem cells, and in characterization of the genetic and functional cell state in MPS bioreactors. There is growing appreciation of the need to minimize perfusate-to-cell-volume ratios and respect physiological scaling of coupled TCs. Questions asked by drug developers are followed by an analysis of the potential value, costs, and needs of Pharma. Of highest value and lowest switching costs may be the development of MPS disease models to aid in the discovery of disease mechanisms; novel compounds including probes, leads, and clinical candidates; and mechanism of action of drug candidates. Impact statement Microphysiological systems (MPS), which include engineered organoids and both individual and coupled organs-on-chips and tissue chips, are a rapidly growing topic of research that addresses the known limitations of conventional cellular monoculture on flat plastic - a well-perfected set of techniques that produces reliable, statistically significant results that may not adequately represent human biology and disease. As reviewed in this article and the others in this thematic issue, MPS research has made notable progress in the past three years in both cell sourcing and characterization. As the field matures, currently identified challenges are being addressed, and new ones are being recognized. Building upon investments by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and Environmental Protection Agency of more than $200 million since 2012 and sizable corporate spending, academic and commercial players in the MPS community are demonstrating their ability to meet the translational challenges required to apply MPS technologies to accelerate drug development and advance toxicology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rosemarie Hunziker
- 2 National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - John P Wikswo
- 3 Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, and Physics & Astronomy, Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235-1807, USA
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25
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Lachaux J, Alcaine C, Gómez-Escoda B, Perrault CM, Duplan DO, Wu PYJ, Ochoa I, Fernandez L, Mercier O, Coudreuse D, Roy E. Thermoplastic elastomer with advanced hydrophilization and bonding performances for rapid (30 s) and easy molding of microfluidic devices. LAB ON A CHIP 2017; 17:2581-2594. [PMID: 28656191 DOI: 10.1039/c7lc00488e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
One of the most important areas of research on microfluidic technologies focuses on the identification and characterisation of novel materials with enhanced properties and versatility. Here we present a fast, easy and inexpensive microstructuration method for the fabrication of novel, flexible, transparent and biocompatible microfluidic devices. Using a simple hot press, we demonstrate the rapid (30 s) production of various microfluidic prototypes embossed in a commercially available soft thermoplastic elastomer (sTPE). This styrenic block copolymer (BCP) material is as flexible as PDMS and as thermoformable as classical thermoplastics. It exhibits high fidelity of replication using SU-8 and epoxy master molds in a highly convenient low-isobar (0.4 bar) and iso-thermal process. Microfluidic devices can then be easily sealed using either a simple hot plate or even a room-temperature assembly, allowing them to sustain liquid pressures of 2 and 0.6 bar, respectively. The excellent sorption and biocompatibility properties of the microchips were validated via a standard rhodamine dye assay as well as a sensitive yeast cell-based assay. The morphology and composition of the surface area after plasma treatment for hydrophilization purposes are stable and show constant and homogenous distribution of block nanodomains (∼22° after 4 days). These domains, which are evenly distributed on the nanoscale, therefore account for the uniform and convenient surface of a "microfluidic scale device". To our knowledge, this is the first thermoplastic elastomer material that can be used for fast and reliable fabrication and assembly of microdevices while maintaining a high and stable hydrophilicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Lachaux
- Centre Nanosciences et Nanotechnologies, CNRS UMR9001, Paris-Saclay University, 91460 Marcoussis, France.
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26
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Abstract
To curb the high cost of drug development, there is an urgent need to develop more predictive tissue models using human cells to determine drug efficacy and safety in advance of clinical testing. Recent insights gained through fundamental biological studies have validated the importance of dynamic cell environments and cellular communication to the expression of high fidelity organ function. Building on this knowledge, emerging organ-on-a-chip technology is poised to fill the gaps in drug screening by offering predictive human tissue models with methods of sophisticated tissue assembly. Organ-on-a-chip start-ups have begun to spawn from academic research to fill this commercial space and are attracting investment to transform the drug discovery industry. This review traces the history, examines the scientific foundation and envisages the prospect of these renowned organ-on-a-chip technologies. It serves as a guide for new members of this dynamic field to navigate the existing scientific and market space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boyang Zhang
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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27
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Callens C, Coelho NC, Miller AW, Sananes MRD, Dunham MJ, Denoual M, Coudreuse D. A multiplex culture system for the long-term growth of fission yeast cells. Yeast 2017; 34:343-355. [PMID: 28426144 PMCID: PMC5542872 DOI: 10.1002/yea.3237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Revised: 04/08/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Maintenance of long‐term cultures of yeast cells is central to a broad range of investigations, from metabolic studies to laboratory evolution assays. However, repeated dilutions of batch cultures lead to variations in medium composition, with implications for cell physiology. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, powerful miniaturized chemostat setups, or ministat arrays, have been shown to allow for constant dilution of multiple independent cultures. Here we set out to adapt these arrays for continuous culture of a morphologically and physiologically distinct yeast, the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, with the goal of maintaining constant population density over time. First, we demonstrated that the original ministats are incompatible with growing fission yeast for more than a few generations, prompting us to modify different aspects of the system design. Next, we identified critical parameters for sustaining unbiased vegetative growth in these conditions. This requires deletion of the gsf2 flocculin‐encoding gene, along with addition of galactose to the medium and lowering of the culture temperature. Importantly, we improved the flexibility of the ministats by developing a piezo‐pump module for the independent regulation of the dilution rate of each culture. This made it possible to easily grow strains that have different generation times in the same assay. Our system therefore allows for maintaining multiple fission yeast cultures in exponential growth, adapting the dilution of each culture over time to keep constant population density for hundreds of generations. These multiplex culture systems open the door to a new range of long‐term experiments using this model organism. © 2017 The Authors. Yeast published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Callens
- SyntheCell Team, Institute of Genetics and Development of Rennes, CNRS UMR 6290, Rennes, France
| | - Nelson C Coelho
- SyntheCell Team, Institute of Genetics and Development of Rennes, CNRS UMR 6290, Rennes, France
| | - Aaron W Miller
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Maitreya J Dunham
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Matthieu Denoual
- Ecole National Supérieure d'Ingénieurs de Caen, UMR 6072 - GREYC, Caen, France
| | - Damien Coudreuse
- SyntheCell Team, Institute of Genetics and Development of Rennes, CNRS UMR 6290, Rennes, France
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28
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Vernetti L, Gough A, Baetz N, Blutt S, Broughman JR, Brown JA, Foulke-Abel J, Hasan N, In J, Kelly E, Kovbasnjuk O, Repper J, Senutovitch N, Stabb J, Yeung C, Zachos NC, Donowitz M, Estes M, Himmelfarb J, Truskey G, Wikswo JP, Taylor DL. Functional Coupling of Human Microphysiology Systems: Intestine, Liver, Kidney Proximal Tubule, Blood-Brain Barrier and Skeletal Muscle. Sci Rep 2017; 7:42296. [PMID: 28176881 PMCID: PMC5296733 DOI: 10.1038/srep42296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 171] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2016] [Accepted: 12/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Organ interactions resulting from drug, metabolite or xenobiotic transport between organs are key components of human metabolism that impact therapeutic action and toxic side effects. Preclinical animal testing often fails to predict adverse outcomes arising from sequential, multi-organ metabolism of drugs and xenobiotics. Human microphysiological systems (MPS) can model these interactions and are predicted to dramatically improve the efficiency of the drug development process. In this study, five human MPS models were evaluated for functional coupling, defined as the determination of organ interactions via an in vivo-like sequential, organ-to-organ transfer of media. MPS models representing the major absorption, metabolism and clearance organs (the jejunum, liver and kidney) were evaluated, along with skeletal muscle and neurovascular models. Three compounds were evaluated for organ-specific processing: terfenadine for pharmacokinetics (PK) and toxicity; trimethylamine (TMA) as a potentially toxic microbiome metabolite; and vitamin D3. We show that the organ-specific processing of these compounds was consistent with clinical data, and discovered that trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) crosses the blood-brain barrier. These studies demonstrate the potential of human MPS for multi-organ toxicity and absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME), provide guidance for physically coupling MPS, and offer an approach to coupling MPS with distinct media and perfusion requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence Vernetti
- University of Pittsburgh, Drug Discovery Institute Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Baltimore, PA, USA
| | - Albert Gough
- University of Pittsburgh, Drug Discovery Institute Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Baltimore, PA, USA
| | - Nicholas Baetz
- Departments of Physiology and Medicine, GI Division, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sarah Blutt
- Departments of Molecular Virology and Microbiology and Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - James R Broughman
- Departments of Molecular Virology and Microbiology and Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jacquelyn A Brown
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jennifer Foulke-Abel
- Departments of Physiology and Medicine, GI Division, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Nesrin Hasan
- Departments of Physiology and Medicine, GI Division, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Julie In
- Departments of Physiology and Medicine, GI Division, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Edward Kelly
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Washington, WA, USA
| | - Olga Kovbasnjuk
- Departments of Physiology and Medicine, GI Division, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jonathan Repper
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Nina Senutovitch
- University of Pittsburgh, Drug Discovery Institute Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Janet Stabb
- Departments of Physiology and Medicine, GI Division, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Catherine Yeung
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Washington, WA, USA.,Kidney Research Institute, University of Washington, WA, USA
| | - Nick C Zachos
- Departments of Physiology and Medicine, GI Division, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Mark Donowitz
- Departments of Physiology and Medicine, GI Division, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Mary Estes
- Departments of Molecular Virology and Microbiology and Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jonathan Himmelfarb
- Kidney Research Institute, University of Washington, WA, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Washington, WA, USA
| | - George Truskey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - John P Wikswo
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - D Lansing Taylor
- University of Pittsburgh, Drug Discovery Institute Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Baltimore, PA, USA.,University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, PA, USA
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29
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Rezaei Kolahchi A, Khadem Mohtaram N, Pezeshgi Modarres H, Mohammadi MH, Geraili A, Jafari P, Akbari M, Sanati-Nezhad A. Microfluidic-Based Multi-Organ Platforms for Drug Discovery. MICROMACHINES 2016; 7:E162. [PMID: 30404334 PMCID: PMC6189912 DOI: 10.3390/mi7090162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2016] [Revised: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Development of predictive multi-organ models before implementing costly clinical trials is central for screening the toxicity, efficacy, and side effects of new therapeutic agents. Despite significant efforts that have been recently made to develop biomimetic in vitro tissue models, the clinical application of such platforms is still far from reality. Recent advances in physiologically-based pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PBPK-PD) modeling, micro- and nanotechnology, and in silico modeling have enabled single- and multi-organ platforms for investigation of new chemical agents and tissue-tissue interactions. This review provides an overview of the principles of designing microfluidic-based organ-on-chip models for drug testing and highlights current state-of-the-art in developing predictive multi-organ models for studying the cross-talk of interconnected organs. We further discuss the challenges associated with establishing a predictive body-on-chip (BOC) model such as the scaling, cell types, the common medium, and principles of the study design for characterizing the interaction of drugs with multiple targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Rezaei Kolahchi
- BioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
| | - Nima Khadem Mohtaram
- Laboratory for Innovations in MicroEngineering (LiME), Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada.
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
| | - Hassan Pezeshgi Modarres
- BioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
| | - Mohammad Hossein Mohammadi
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Ave., Tehran 11155-9516, Iran.
| | - Armin Geraili
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Ave., Tehran 11155-9516, Iran.
| | - Parya Jafari
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Ave., Tehran 11155-9516, Iran.
| | - Mohsen Akbari
- Laboratory for Innovations in MicroEngineering (LiME), Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada.
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada.
| | - Amir Sanati-Nezhad
- BioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
- Center for Bioengineering Research and Education, Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
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30
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Cybulski O, Jakiela S, Garstecki P. Whole Teflon valves for handling droplets. LAB ON A CHIP 2016; 16:2198-210. [PMID: 27182628 DOI: 10.1039/c6lc00375c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
We propose and test a new whole-Teflon gate valve for handling droplets. The valve allows droplet plugs to pass through without disturbing them. This is possible due to the geometric design, the choice of material and lack of any pulses of flow generated by closing or opening the valve. The duct through the valve resembles a simple segment of tubing, without constrictions, change in lumen or side pockets. There are no extra sealing materials with different wettability or chemical resistance. The only material exposed to liquids is FEP Teflon, which is resistant to aggressive chemicals and fully biocompatible. The valve can be integrated into microfluidic systems: we demonstrate a complex system for culturing bacteria in hundreds of microliter droplet chemostats. The valve effectively isolates modules of the system to increase precision of operations on droplets. We verified that the valve allowed millions of droplet plugs to safely pass through, without any cross-contamination with bacteria between the droplets. The valve can be used in automating complex microfluidic systems for experiments in biochemistry, biology and organic chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olgierd Cybulski
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kasprzaka 44/52, 01-224 Warsaw, Poland.
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31
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Santonicola MG, Coscia MG, Sirilli M, Laurenzi S. Nanomaterial-based biosensors for a real-time detection of biological damage by UV light. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2016; 2015:4391-4. [PMID: 26737268 DOI: 10.1109/embc.2015.7319368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
In this work, the design and fabrication of a miniaturized and light-weight biosensor that can be used to monitor the biological effects of hostile ultraviolet radiation in earth and space are presented. The biosensor is generated by embedding a sensitive element to UV radiation, DNA, in a hybrid carbon-based nanomaterial. In particular, we present results on the fabrication and characterization of hybrid nanostructured films containing graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and double-stranded DNA for the in situ and real-time detection of UV radiation damaging effects from the changes of the film electrical properties induced by exposure to UV-C radiation. The biosensor is realized by the deposition of the sensitive unit GNP/DNA on a supporting substrate made of flexible polymers or glass.
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32
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Vieillard J, Hubert-Roux M, Brisset F, Soulignac C, Fioresi F, Mofaddel N, Morin-Grognet S, Afonso C, Le Derf F. Atmospheric Solid Analysis Probe-Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry: An Original Approach to Characterize Grafting on Cyclic Olefin Copolymer Surfaces. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2015; 31:13138-13144. [PMID: 26556473 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b03494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
A cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) was grafted with aryl layers from aryldiazonium salts, and then we combined infrared spectrometry, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and ion mobility mass spectrometry with atmospheric solid analysis probe ionization (ASAP-IM-MS) to characterize the aryl layers. ASAP is a recent atmospheric ionization method dedicated to the direct analysis of solid samples. We demonstrated that ASAP-IM-MS is complementary to other techniques for characterizing bromine and sulfur derivatives of COC on surfaces. ASAP-IM-MS was useful for optimizing experimental grafting conditions and to elucidate hypotheses around aryl layer formation during the grafting process. Thus, ASAP-IM-MS is a good candidate tool to characterize covalent grafting on COC surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Vieillard
- Normandie Université, COBRA, UMR6014 and FR3038, Université de Rouen, INSA de Rouen, CNRS, 55, rue Saint Germain, 27000 Evreux, France
| | - Marie Hubert-Roux
- Normandie Université, COBRA, UMR6014 and FR3038, Université de Rouen, INSA de Rouen, CNRS, 55, rue Saint Germain, 27000 Evreux, France
| | - Florian Brisset
- Normandie Université, COBRA, UMR6014 and FR3038, Université de Rouen, INSA de Rouen, CNRS, 55, rue Saint Germain, 27000 Evreux, France
| | - Cecile Soulignac
- Normandie Université, COBRA, UMR6014 and FR3038, Université de Rouen, INSA de Rouen, CNRS, 55, rue Saint Germain, 27000 Evreux, France
| | - Flavia Fioresi
- Normandie Université, COBRA, UMR6014 and FR3038, Université de Rouen, INSA de Rouen, CNRS, 55, rue Saint Germain, 27000 Evreux, France
| | - Nadine Mofaddel
- Normandie Université, COBRA, UMR6014 and FR3038, Université de Rouen, INSA de Rouen, CNRS, 55, rue Saint Germain, 27000 Evreux, France
| | - Sandrine Morin-Grognet
- Normandie Université, EA3829 MERCI, Université de Rouen, 1 rue du 7ème chasseurs, BP281, 27002 Evreux Cedex, France
| | - Carlos Afonso
- Normandie Université, COBRA, UMR6014 and FR3038, Université de Rouen, INSA de Rouen, CNRS, 55, rue Saint Germain, 27000 Evreux, France
| | - Franck Le Derf
- Normandie Université, COBRA, UMR6014 and FR3038, Université de Rouen, INSA de Rouen, CNRS, 55, rue Saint Germain, 27000 Evreux, France
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33
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Prodanov L, Jindal R, Bale SS, Hegde M, McCarty WJ, Golberg I, Bhushan A, Yarmush ML, Usta OB. Long-term maintenance of a microfluidic 3D human liver sinusoid. Biotechnol Bioeng 2015; 113:241-6. [PMID: 26152452 DOI: 10.1002/bit.25700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2015] [Revised: 06/24/2015] [Accepted: 07/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The development of long-term human organotypic liver-on-a-chip models for successful prediction of toxic response is one of the most important and urgent goals of the NIH/DARPA's initiative to replicate and replace chronic and acute drug testing in animals. For this purpose, we developed a microfluidic chip that consists of two microfluidic chambers separated by a porous membrane. The aim of this communication is to demonstrate the recapitulation of a liver sinusoid-on-a-chip, using human cells only for a period of 28 days. Using a step-by-step method for building a 3D microtissue on-a-chip, we demonstrate that an organotypic in vitro model that reassembles the liver sinusoid microarchitecture can be maintained successfully for a period of 28 days. In addition, higher albumin synthesis (synthetic) and urea excretion (detoxification) were observed under flow compared to static cultures. This human liver-on-a-chip should be further evaluated in drug-related studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ljupcho Prodanov
- Center for Engineering in Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Shriners Hospital for Children, 51 Blossom St., Boston, 02144, Massachusetts
| | - Rohit Jindal
- Center for Engineering in Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Shriners Hospital for Children, 51 Blossom St., Boston, 02144, Massachusetts
| | - Shyam Sundhar Bale
- Center for Engineering in Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Shriners Hospital for Children, 51 Blossom St., Boston, 02144, Massachusetts
| | - Manjunath Hegde
- Center for Engineering in Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Shriners Hospital for Children, 51 Blossom St., Boston, 02144, Massachusetts
| | - William J McCarty
- Center for Engineering in Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Shriners Hospital for Children, 51 Blossom St., Boston, 02144, Massachusetts
| | - Inna Golberg
- Center for Engineering in Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Shriners Hospital for Children, 51 Blossom St., Boston, 02144, Massachusetts
| | - Abhinav Bhushan
- Center for Engineering in Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Shriners Hospital for Children, 51 Blossom St., Boston, 02144, Massachusetts
| | - Martin L Yarmush
- Center for Engineering in Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Shriners Hospital for Children, 51 Blossom St., Boston, 02144, Massachusetts. .,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, 599 Taylor Rd., Piscataway, 08854, New Jersey.
| | - Osman Berk Usta
- Center for Engineering in Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Shriners Hospital for Children, 51 Blossom St., Boston, 02144, Massachusetts.
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34
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Wasay A, Sameoto D. Gecko gaskets for self-sealing and high-strength reversible bonding of microfluidics. LAB ON A CHIP 2015; 15:2749-2753. [PMID: 26016928 DOI: 10.1039/c5lc00342c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
We report in this work a novel reversible bonding technique for elastomeric microfluidic devices by integrating gecko-inspired dry adhesives with microfluidic channels which greatly enhances the bonding strength of reversibly sealed channels. The concept is applicable to nearly any elastomer and can be used to bond against any smooth surface which allows for van der Waals interactions. It does not require any solvents or glues or sources for plasma activation or thermal-compressive loading to aid the bonding process and is achievable at zero extra cost. We also demonstrate a quick fabrication technique involving soft master thermo-compressive molding of these microfluidic devices with thermoplastic elastomers. The resultant devices can be used for both pressure driven and non-pressure driven flows. We report the maximum contained pressure of these devices manufactured from two grades of styrene ethylene butylene styrene (SEBS) by conducting a burst pressure test with various substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Wasay
- Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada.
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35
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Borysiak MD, Kimura KW, Posner JD. NAIL: Nucleic Acid detection using Isotachophoresis and Loop-mediated isothermal amplification. LAB ON A CHIP 2015; 15:1697-707. [PMID: 25666345 DOI: 10.1039/c4lc01479k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Nucleic acid amplification tests are the gold standard for many infectious disease diagnoses due to high sensitivity and specificity, rapid operation, and low limits of detection. Despite the advantages of nucleic acid amplification tests, they currently offer limited point-of-care (POC) utility due to the need for complex instruments and laborious sample preparation. We report the development of the Nucleic Acid Isotachophoresis LAMP (NAIL) diagnostic device. NAIL uses isotachophoresis (ITP) and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) to extract and amplify nucleic acids from complex matrices in less than one hour inside of an integrated chip. ITP is an electrokinetic separation technique that uses an electric field and two buffers to extract and purify nucleic acids in a single step. LAMP amplifies nucleic acids at constant temperature and produces large amounts of DNA that can be easily detected. A mobile phone images the amplification results to eliminate the need for laser fluorescent detection. The device requires minimal user intervention because capillary valves and heated air chambers act as passive valves and pumps for automated fluid actuation. In this paper, we describe NAIL device design and operation, and demonstrate the extraction and detection of pathogenic E. coli O157:H7 cells from whole milk samples. We use the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) limit of detection (LoD) definitions that take into account the variance from both positive and negative samples to determine the diagnostic LoD. According to the CLSI definition, the NAIL device has a limit of detection (LoD) of 1000 CFU mL(-1) for E. coli cells artificially inoculated into whole milk, which is two orders of magnitude improvement to standard tube-LAMP reactions with diluted milk samples and comparable to lab-based methods. The NAIL device potentially offers significant reductions in the complexity and cost of traditional nucleic acid diagnostics for POC applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Borysiak
- Chemical Engineering Department, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. E-mail:
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Usta OB, McCarty WJ, Bale S, Hegde M, Jindal R, Bhushan A, Golberg I, Yarmush ML. Microengineered cell and tissue systems for drug screening and toxicology applications: Evolution of in-vitro liver technologies. TECHNOLOGY 2015; 3:1-26. [PMID: 26167518 PMCID: PMC4494128 DOI: 10.1142/s2339547815300012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The liver performs many key functions, the most prominent of which is serving as the metabolic hub of the body. For this reason, the liver is the focal point of many investigations aimed at understanding an organism's toxicological response to endogenous and exogenous challenges. Because so many drug failures have involved direct liver toxicity or other organ toxicity from liver generated metabolites, the pharmaceutical industry has constantly sought superior, predictive in-vitro models that can more quickly and efficiently identify problematic drug candidates before they incur major development costs, and certainly before they are released to the public. In this broad review, we present a survey and critical comparison of in-vitro liver technologies along a broad spectrum, but focus on the current renewed push to develop "organs-on-a-chip". One prominent set of conclusions from this review is that while a large body of recent work has steered the field towards an ever more comprehensive understanding of what is needed, the field remains in great need of several key advances, including establishment of standard characterization methods, enhanced technologies that mimic the in-vivo cellular environment, and better computational approaches to bridge the gap between the in-vitro and in-vivo results.
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Affiliation(s)
- O B Usta
- Center for Engineering in Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Shriners Hospital for Children, 51 Blossom St., Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - W J McCarty
- Center for Engineering in Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Shriners Hospital for Children, 51 Blossom St., Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - S Bale
- Center for Engineering in Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Shriners Hospital for Children, 51 Blossom St., Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - M Hegde
- Center for Engineering in Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Shriners Hospital for Children, 51 Blossom St., Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - R Jindal
- Center for Engineering in Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Shriners Hospital for Children, 51 Blossom St., Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - A Bhushan
- Center for Engineering in Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Shriners Hospital for Children, 51 Blossom St., Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - I Golberg
- Center for Engineering in Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Shriners Hospital for Children, 51 Blossom St., Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - M L Yarmush
- Center for Engineering in Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Shriners Hospital for Children, 51 Blossom St., Boston, MA 02114, USA ; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, 599 Taylor Rd., Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
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Borysiak MD, Yuferova E, Posner JD. Simple, low-cost styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene microdevices for electrokinetic applications. Anal Chem 2013; 85:11700-4. [PMID: 24245911 DOI: 10.1021/ac4027675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS) copolymers combine thermoplastic and elastomeric properties to provide microdevices with the advantageous properties of hard thermoplastics and ease of fabrication similar to PDMS. This work describes the electrical surface properties of SEBS block copolymers using current monitoring experiments to determine zeta potential. We show that SEBS exhibits a stable and relatively high zeta potential magnitude compared to similar polymers. The zeta potential of SEBS is stable when stored in air over time, and no significant differences are observed between different batches and devices, demonstrating reproducibility of results. We show zeta potential trends for varying pH and counterion concentration and demonstrate that SEBS has a repeatable surface potential comparable to glass. Oxygen plasma treatment greatly increases the zeta potential magnitude immediately following treatment before undergoing a moderate hydrophobic recovery to a stable zeta potential. SEBS copolymers also offer simple rapid prototyping fabrication and mass production potential. The presented electrokinetic properties combined with simple, low-cost fabrication of microdevices make SEBS a quality material for electrokinetic research and application development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Borysiak
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington , Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
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Abstract
'Organs-on-chips' are microengineered biomimetic systems containing microfluidic channels lined by living human cells, which replicate key functional units of living organs to reconstitute integrated human organ-level pathophysiology in vitro. These microdevices can be used to test efficacy and toxicity of drugs and chemicals, and to create in vitro models of human disease. Thus, they potentially represent low-cost alternatives to conventional animal models for pharmaceutical, chemical and environmental applications. Here we describe a protocol for the fabrication, microengineering and operation of these microfluidic organ-on-chip systems. First, microengineering is used to fabricate a multilayered microfluidic device that contains two parallel elastomeric microchannels separated by a thin porous flexible membrane, along with two full-height, hollow vacuum chambers on either side; this requires ∼3.5 d to complete. To create a 'breathing' lung-on-a-chip that mimics the mechanically active alveolar-capillary interface of the living human lung, human alveolar epithelial cells and microvascular endothelial cells are cultured in the microdevice with physiological flow and cyclic suction applied to the side chambers to reproduce rhythmic breathing movements. We describe how this protocol can be easily adapted to develop other human organ chips, such as a gut-on-a-chip lined by human intestinal epithelial cells that experiences peristalsis-like motions and trickling fluid flow. Also, we discuss experimental techniques that can be used to analyze the cells in these organ-on-chip devices.
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