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Walker SN, Lucas K, Dewey MJ, Badylak S, Hussey G, Flax J, McGrath JL. Rapid Assessment of Biomarkers on Single Extracellular Vesicles Using 'Catch and Display' on Ultrathin Nanoporous Silicon Nitride Membranes. bioRxiv 2024:2024.04.29.589900. [PMID: 38746341 PMCID: PMC11092443 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.29.589900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are particles secreted by all cells that carry bioactive cargo and facilitate intercellular communication with roles in normal physiology and disease pathogenesis. EVs have tremendous diagnostic and therapeutic potential and accordingly, the EV field has grown exponentially in recent years. Bulk assays lack the sensitivity to detect rare EV subsets relevant to disease, and while single EV analysis techniques remedy this, they are undermined by complicated detection schemes often coupled with prohibitive instrumentation. To address these issues, we propose a microfluidic technique for EV characterization called ' ca tch and d isplay for l iquid b iopsy (CAD-LB)'. CAD-LB rapidly captures fluorescently labeled EVs in the similarly-sized pores of an ultrathin silicon nitride membrane. Minimally processed sample is introduced via pipette injection into a simple microfluidic device which is directly imaged using fluorescence microscopy for a rapid assessment of EV number and biomarker colocalization. In this work, nanoparticles were first used to define the accuracy and dynamic range for counting and colocalization by CAD-LB. Following this, the same assessments were made for purified EVs and for unpurified EVs in plasma. Biomarker detection was validated using CD9 in which Western blot analysis confirmed that CAD-LB faithfully recapitulated differing expression levels among samples. We further verified that CAD-LB captured the known increase in EV-associated ICAM-1 following the cytokine stimulation of endothelial cells. Finally, to demonstrate CAD-LB's clinical potential, we show that EV biomarkers indicative of immunotherapy responsiveness are successfully detected in the plasma of bladder cancer patients undergoing immune checkpoint blockade.
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2
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Ahmad D, Linares I, Pietropaoli A, Waugh RE, McGrath JL. Sided Stimulation of Endothelial Cells Modulates Neutrophil Trafficking in an In Vitro Sepsis Model. Adv Healthc Mater 2024:e2304338. [PMID: 38547536 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202304338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
While the role of dysregulated polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) transmigration in septic mediated tissue damage is well documented, strategies to mitigate aberrant transmigration across endothelium have yet to yield viable therapeutics. Recently, microphysiological systems (MPS) have emerged as novel in vitro mimetics that facilitate the development of human models of disease. With this advancement, aspects of endothelial physiology that are difficult to assess with other models can be directly probed. In this study, the role of endothelial cell (EC) apicobasal polarity on leukocyte trafficking response is evaluated with the µSiM-MVM (microphysiological system enabled by a silicon membrane - microvascular mimetic). Here, ECs are stimulated either apically or basally with a cytokine cocktail to model a septic-like challenge before introducing healthy donor PMNs into the device. Basally oriented stimulation generated a stronger PMN transmigratory response versus apical stimulation. Importantly, healthy PMNs are unable to migrate towards a bacterial peptide chemoattractant when ECs are apically stimulated, which mimics the attenuated PMN chemotaxis seen in sepsis. Escalating the apical inflammatory stimulus by a factor of five is necessary to elicit high PMN transmigration levels across endothelium. These results demonstrate that EC apicobasal polarity modulates PMN transmigratory behavior and provides insight into the mechanisms underlying sepsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danial Ahmad
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14627, USA
| | - Isabelle Linares
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14627, USA
| | - Anthony Pietropaoli
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Care at the University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14627, USA
| | - Richard E Waugh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14627, USA
| | - James L McGrath
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14627, USA
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3
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Deli MA, Porkoláb G, Kincses A, Mészáros M, Szecskó A, Kocsis AE, Vigh JP, Valkai S, Veszelka S, Walter FR, Dér A. Lab-on-a-chip models of the blood-brain barrier: evolution, problems, perspectives. Lab Chip 2024; 24:1030-1063. [PMID: 38353254 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00996c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
A great progress has been made in the development and use of lab-on-a-chip devices to model and study the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in the last decade. We present the main types of BBB-on-chip models and their use for the investigation of BBB physiology, drug and nanoparticle transport, toxicology and pathology. The selection of the appropriate cell types to be integrated into BBB-on-chip devices is discussed, as this greatly impacts the physiological relevance and translatability of findings. We identify knowledge gaps, neglected engineering and cell biological aspects and point out problems and contradictions in the literature of BBB-on-chip models, and suggest areas for further studies to progress this highly interdisciplinary field. BBB-on-chip models have an exceptional potential as predictive tools and alternatives of animal experiments in basic and preclinical research. To exploit the full potential of this technique expertise from materials science, bioengineering as well as stem cell and vascular/BBB biology is necessary. There is a need for better integration of these diverse disciplines that can only be achieved by setting clear parameters for characterizing both the chip and the BBB model parts technically and functionally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mária A Deli
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Institute of Biophysics, Szeged, Hungary.
| | - Gergő Porkoláb
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Institute of Biophysics, Szeged, Hungary.
- Doctoral School of Biology, University of Szeged, Hungary
| | - András Kincses
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Institute of Biophysics, Szeged, Hungary.
| | - Mária Mészáros
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Institute of Biophysics, Szeged, Hungary.
| | - Anikó Szecskó
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Institute of Biophysics, Szeged, Hungary.
- Doctoral School of Biology, University of Szeged, Hungary
| | - Anna E Kocsis
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Institute of Biophysics, Szeged, Hungary.
| | - Judit P Vigh
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Institute of Biophysics, Szeged, Hungary.
- Doctoral School of Biology, University of Szeged, Hungary
| | - Sándor Valkai
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Institute of Biophysics, Szeged, Hungary.
| | - Szilvia Veszelka
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Institute of Biophysics, Szeged, Hungary.
| | - Fruzsina R Walter
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Institute of Biophysics, Szeged, Hungary.
| | - András Dér
- HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Institute of Biophysics, Szeged, Hungary.
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4
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Awad H, Ajalik R, Alenchery R, Linares I, Wright T, Miller B, McGrath J. Human tendon-on-a-chip for modeling vascular inflammatory fibrosis. Res Sq 2023:rs.3.rs-3722255. [PMID: 38168335 PMCID: PMC10760304 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3722255/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Understanding vascular inflammation and myofibroblast crosstalk is critical to developing therapies for fibrotic diseases. Here we report the development of a novel human Tendon-on-a-Chip (hToC) to model this crosstalk in peritendinous adhesions, a debilitating fibrotic condition affecting flexor tendon, which currently lacks biological therapies. The hToC enables cellular and paracrine interactions between a vascular compartment harboring endothelial cells and monocytes with a tissue hydrogel compartment containing tendon fibroblasts and macrophages. We find that the hToC replicates in vivo inflammatory and fibrotic phenotypes in preclinical and clinical samples, including myofibroblast differentiation and tissue contraction, excessive ECM deposition, and inflammatory cytokines secretion. We further show that the fibrotic phenotypes are driven by the transmigration of monocytes from the vascular to the tissue compartments of the chip. We demonstrate significant overlap in fibrotic transcriptional signatures in the hToC with human tenolysis samples, including mTOR signaling, a regulatory nexus of fibrosis across various organs. Treatment with rapamycin suppressed the fibrotic phenotype on the hToC, which validates the hToC as a preclinical alternative for investigating fibrosis and testing therapeutics.
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Poskus MD, Wang T, Deng Y, Borcherding S, Atkinson J, Zervantonakis IK. Fabrication of 3D-printed molds for polydimethylsiloxane-based microfluidic devices using a liquid crystal display-based vat photopolymerization process: printing quality, drug response and 3D invasion cell culture assays. Microsyst Nanoeng 2023; 9:140. [PMID: 37954040 PMCID: PMC10632127 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-023-00607-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic platforms enable more precise control of biological stimuli and environment dimensionality than conventional macroscale cell-based assays; however, long fabrication times and high-cost specialized equipment limit the widespread adoption of microfluidic technologies. Recent improvements in vat photopolymerization three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies such as liquid crystal display (LCD) printing offer rapid prototyping and a cost-effective solution to microfluidic fabrication. Limited information is available about how 3D printing parameters and resin cytocompatibility impact the performance of 3D-printed molds for the fabrication of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based microfluidic platforms for cellular studies. Using a low-cost, commercially available LCD-based 3D printer, we assessed the cytocompatibility of several resins, optimized fabrication parameters, and characterized the minimum feature size. We evaluated the response to both cytotoxic chemotherapy and targeted kinase therapies in microfluidic devices fabricated using our 3D-printed molds and demonstrated the establishment of flow-based concentration gradients. Furthermore, we monitored real-time cancer cell and fibroblast migration in a 3D matrix environment that was dependent on environmental signals. These results demonstrate how vat photopolymerization LCD-based fabrication can accelerate the prototyping of microfluidic platforms with increased accessibility and resolution for PDMS-based cell culture assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D. Poskus
- Department of Bioengineering, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Tuo Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Yuxuan Deng
- Department of Bioengineering, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Sydney Borcherding
- Department of Bioengineering, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Jake Atkinson
- Department of Bioengineering, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Ioannis K. Zervantonakis
- Department of Bioengineering, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA
- McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
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6
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Lyck R, Nishihara H, Aydin S, Soldati S, Engelhardt B. Modeling Brain Vasculature Immune Interactions In Vitro. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2023; 13:a041185. [PMID: 36617644 PMCID: PMC10513158 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The endothelial blood-brain barrier (BBB) protects central nervous system (CNS) neurons from the changeable milieu of the bloodstream by strictly controlling the movement of molecules and immune cells between the blood and the CNS. Immune cell migration across the vascular wall is a multistep process regulated by the sequential interaction of different signaling and adhesion molecules on the endothelium and the immune cells. Accounting for its unique barrier properties and trafficking molecule expression profile, particular adaptions in immune cell migration across the BBB have been observed. Thus, in vitro models of the BBB are desirable to explore the precise cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in immune cell trafficking across the BBB. The challenge to overcome is that barrier properties of brain microvascular endothelial cells are not intrinsic and readily lost in culture. With a focus on human in vitro BBB models, we here discuss the suitability of available in vitro models for the BBB for exploring the specific mechanisms involved in immune cell trafficking across the BBB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Lyck
- Theodor Kocher Institute, University of Bern, CH 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Hideaki Nishihara
- Theodor Kocher Institute, University of Bern, CH 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sidar Aydin
- Theodor Kocher Institute, University of Bern, CH 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sasha Soldati
- Theodor Kocher Institute, University of Bern, CH 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Britta Engelhardt
- Theodor Kocher Institute, University of Bern, CH 3012 Bern, Switzerland
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7
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Vasunilashorn SM, Lunardi N, Newman JC, Crosby G, Acker L, Abel T, Bhatnagar S, Cunningham C, de Cabo R, Dugan L, Hippensteel JA, Ishizawa Y, Lahiri S, Marcantonio ER, Xie Z, Inouye SK, Terrando N, Eckenhoff RG. Preclinical and translational models for delirium: Recommendations for future research from the NIDUS delirium network. Alzheimers Dement 2023; 19:2150-2174. [PMID: 36799408 PMCID: PMC10576242 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Delirium is a common, morbid, and costly syndrome that is closely linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRD) as a risk factor and outcome. Human studies of delirium have advanced our knowledge of delirium incidence and prevalence, risk factors, biomarkers, outcomes, prevention, and management. However, understanding of delirium neurobiology remains limited. Preclinical and translational models for delirium, while challenging to develop, could advance our knowledge of delirium neurobiology and inform the development of new prevention and treatment approaches. We discuss the use of preclinical and translational animal models in delirium, focusing on (1) a review of current animal models, (2) challenges and strategies for replicating elements of human delirium in animals, and (3) the utility of biofluid, neurophysiology, and neuroimaging translational markers in animals. We conclude with recommendations for the development and validation of preclinical and translational models for delirium, with the goal of advancing awareness in this important field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarinnapha M. Vasunilashorn
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nadia Lunardi
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - John C. Newman
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, California, USA
| | - Gregory Crosby
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Leah Acker
- Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University, Durham, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ted Abel
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Seema Bhatnagar
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Colm Cunningham
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Dublin, Ireland
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Rafael de Cabo
- Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Laura Dugan
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- VA Tennessee Valley Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC), Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Joseph A. Hippensteel
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Yumiko Ishizawa
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Shouri Lahiri
- Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Biomedical Sciences, Cedar-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Edward R. Marcantonio
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Zhongcong Xie
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sharon K. Inouye
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Niccolò Terrando
- Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Immunology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Duke Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, USA
| | - Roderic G. Eckenhoff
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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8
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Ahmad SD, Cetin M, Waugh RE, McGrath JL. A computer vision approach for analyzing label free leukocyte trafficking dynamics on a microvascular mimetic. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1140395. [PMID: 37033977 PMCID: PMC10080102 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1140395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
High-content imaging techniques in conjunction with in vitro microphysiological systems (MPS) allow for novel explorations of physiological phenomena with a high degree of translational relevance due to the usage of human cell lines. MPS featuring ultrathin and nanoporous silicon nitride membranes (µSiM) have been utilized in the past to facilitate high magnification phase contrast microscopy recordings of leukocyte trafficking events in a living mimetic of the human vascular microenvironment. Notably, the imaging plane can be set directly at the endothelial interface in a µSiM device, resulting in a high-resolution capture of an endothelial cell (EC) and leukocyte coculture reacting to different stimulatory conditions. The abundance of data generated from recording observations at this interface can be used to elucidate disease mechanisms related to vascular barrier dysfunction, such as sepsis. The appearance of leukocytes in these recordings is dynamic, changing in character, location and time. Consequently, conventional image processing techniques are incapable of extracting the spatiotemporal profiles and bulk statistics of numerous leukocytes responding to a disease state, necessitating labor-intensive manual processing, a significant limitation of this approach. Here we describe a machine learning pipeline that uses a semantic segmentation algorithm and classification script that, in combination, is capable of automated and label-free leukocyte trafficking analysis in a coculture mimetic. The developed computational toolset has demonstrable parity with manually tabulated datasets when characterizing leukocyte spatiotemporal behavior, is computationally efficient and capable of managing large imaging datasets in a semi-automated manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Danial Ahmad
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Mujdat Cetin
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
- Goergen Institute for Data Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Richard E. Waugh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - James L. McGrath
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
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Hudecz D, McCloskey MC, Vergo S, Christensen S, McGrath JL, Nielsen MS. Modelling a Human Blood-Brain Barrier Co-Culture Using an Ultrathin Silicon Nitride Membrane-Based Microfluidic Device. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:5624. [PMID: 36982697 PMCID: PMC10058651 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the vesicular trafficking of receptors and receptor ligands in the brain capillary endothelium is essential for the development of the next generations of biologics targeting neurodegenerative diseases. Such complex biological questions are often approached by in vitro models in combination with various techniques. Here, we present the development of a stem cell-based human in vitro blood-brain barrier model composed of induced brain microvascular endothelial cells (iBMECs) on the modular µSiM (a microdevice featuring a silicon nitride membrane) platform. The µSiM was equipped with a 100 nm thick nanoporous silicon nitride membrane with glass-like imaging quality that allowed the use of high-resolution in situ imaging to study the intracellular trafficking. As a proof-of-concept experiment, we investigated the trafficking of two monoclonal antibodies (mAb): an anti-human transferrin receptor mAb (15G11) and an anti-basigin mAb (#52) using the µSiM-iBMEC-human astrocyte model. Our results demonstrated effective endothelial uptake of the selected antibodies; however, no significant transcytosis was observed when the barrier was tight. In contrast, when the iBMECs did not form a confluent barrier on the µSiM, the antibodies accumulated inside both the iBMECs and astrocytes, demonstrating that the cells have an active endocytic and subcellular sorting machinery and that the µSiM itself does not hinder antibody transport. In conclusion, our µSiM-iBMEC-human astrocyte model provides a tight barrier with endothelial-like cells, which can be used for high-resolution in situ imaging and for studying receptor-mediated transport and transcytosis in a physiological barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Hudecz
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Molly C. McCloskey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Sandra Vergo
- Biotherapeutic Discovery, H. Lundbeck A/S, Valby, 2500 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Søren Christensen
- Biotherapeutic Discovery, H. Lundbeck A/S, Valby, 2500 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - James L. McGrath
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
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10
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Su SH, Song Y, Stephens A, Situ M, McCloskey MC, McGrath JL, Andjelkovic AV, Singer BH, Kurabayashi K. A tissue chip with integrated digital immunosensors: In situ brain endothelial barrier cytokine secretion monitoring. Biosens Bioelectron 2023; 224:115030. [PMID: 36603283 PMCID: PMC10401069 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2022.115030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Organ-on-a-chip platforms have potential to offer more cost-effective, ethical, and human-resembling models than animal models for disease study and drug discovery. Particularly, the Blood-Brain-Barrier-on-a-chip (BBB-oC) has emerged as a promising tool to investigate several neurological disorders since it promises to provide a model of the multifunctional tissue working as an important node to control pathogen entry, drug delivery and neuroinflammation. A comprehensive understanding of the multiple physiological functions of the tissue model requires biosensors detecting several tissue-secreted substances in a BBB-oC system. However, current sensor-integrated BBB-oC platforms are only available for tissue membrane integrity characterization based on permeability measurement. Protein secretory pathways are closely associated with the tissue's various diseased conditions. At present, no biosensor-integrated BBB-oC platform exists that permits in situ tissue protein secretion analysis over time, which prohibits researchers from fully understanding the time-evolving pathology of a tissue barrier. Herein, the authors present a platform named "Digital Tissue-BArrier-CytoKine-counting-on-a-chip (DigiTACK)," which integrates digital immunosensors into a tissue chip system and demonstrates on-chip multiplexed, ultrasensitive, longitudinal cytokine secretion profiling of cultured brain endothelial barrier tissues. The integrated digital sensors utilize a novel beadless microwell format to perform an ultrafast "digital fingerprinting" of the analytes while achieving a low limit of detection (LoD) around 100-500 fg/mL for mouse MCP1 (CCL2), IL-6 and KC (CXCL1). The DigiTACK platform is extensively applicable to profile temporal cytokine secretion of other barrier-related organ-on-a-chip systems and can provide new insight into the secretory dynamics of the BBB by sequentially controlled experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiuan-Haur Su
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Yujing Song
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Andrew Stephens
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Muyu Situ
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Molly C McCloskey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14627, USA
| | - James L McGrath
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14627, USA
| | - Anuska V Andjelkovic
- Department of Pathology and Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Benjamin H Singer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; Weil Institute for Critical Care Research and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Katsuo Kurabayashi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA; Weil Institute for Critical Care Research and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
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11
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Mansouri M, Ahmed A, Ahmad SD, McCloskey MC, Joshi IM, Gaborski TR, Waugh RE, McGrath JL, Day SW, Abhyankar VV. The Modular µSiM Reconfigured: Integration of Microfluidic Capabilities to Study In Vitro Barrier Tissue Models under Flow. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 11:e2200802. [PMID: 35953453 PMCID: PMC9798530 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202200802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic tissue barrier models have emerged to address the lack of physiological fluid flow in conventional "open-well" Transwell-like devices. However, microfluidic techniques have not achieved widespread usage in bioscience laboratories because they are not fully compatible with traditional experimental protocols. To advance barrier tissue research, there is a need for a platform that combines the key advantages of both conventional open-well and microfluidic systems. Here, a plug-and-play flow module is developed to introduce on-demand microfluidic flow capabilities to an open-well device that features a nanoporous membrane and live-cell imaging capabilities. The magnetic latching assembly of this design enables bi-directional reconfiguration and allows users to conduct an experiment in an open-well format with established protocols and then add or remove microfluidic capabilities as desired. This work also provides an experimentally-validated flow model to select flow conditions based on the experimental needs. As a proof-of-concept, flow-induced alignment of endothelial cells and the expression of shear-sensitive gene targets are demonstrated, and the different phases of neutrophil transmigration across a chemically stimulated endothelial monolayer under flow conditions are visualized. With these experimental capabilities, it is anticipated that both engineering and bioscience laboratories will adopt this reconfigurable design due to the compatibility with standard open-well protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehran Mansouri
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, 14623, USA
| | - Adeel Ahmed
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, 14623, USA
| | - S. Danial Ahmad
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14627, USA
| | - Molly C. McCloskey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14627, USA
| | - Indranil M. Joshi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, 14623, USA
| | - Thomas R. Gaborski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, 14623, USA
| | - Richard E. Waugh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14627, USA
| | - James L. McGrath
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14627, USA
| | - Steven W. Day
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, 14623, USA
| | - Vinay V. Abhyankar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, 14623, USA
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McCloskey MC, Zhang VZ, Ahmad SD, Walker S, Romanick SS, Awad HA, McGrath JL. Sourcing cells for in vitro models of human vascular barriers of inflammation. Front Med Technol 2022; 4:979768. [PMID: 36483299 PMCID: PMC9724237 DOI: 10.3389/fmedt.2022.979768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The vascular system plays a critical role in the progression and resolution of inflammation. The contributions of the vascular endothelium to these processes, however, vary with tissue and disease state. Recently, tissue chip models have emerged as promising tools to understand human disease and for the development of personalized medicine approaches. Inclusion of a vascular component within these platforms is critical for properly evaluating most diseases, but many models to date use "generic" endothelial cells, which can preclude the identification of biomedically meaningful pathways and mechanisms. As the knowledge of vascular heterogeneity and immune cell trafficking throughout the body advances, tissue chip models should also advance to incorporate tissue-specific cells where possible. Here, we discuss the known heterogeneity of leukocyte trafficking in vascular beds of some commonly modeled tissues. We comment on the availability of different tissue-specific cell sources for endothelial cells and pericytes, with a focus on stem cell sources for the full realization of personalized medicine. We discuss sources available for the immune cells needed to model inflammatory processes and the findings of tissue chip models that have used the cells to studying transmigration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly C. McCloskey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Victor Z. Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
- Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - S. Danial Ahmad
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Samuel Walker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Samantha S. Romanick
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Hani A. Awad
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
- Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Orthopaedics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - James L. McGrath
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
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