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Published on: October 1, 2007
Microfluidic control of cell pairing and fusion
Alison M Skelley1, Oktay Kirak, Heikyung Suh
1Research Laboratory of Electronics, 50 Vassar Street, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Nature Methods
|January 6, 2009
Summary
This study introduces a microfluidic device for efficient cell pairing and fusion, significantly improving yields for applications like hybridoma generation and cell reprogramming. The novel device achieves higher fusion efficiencies compared to traditional methods.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Cell Biology
- Microfluidics
Background:
- Cell fusion is critical for applications such as hybridoma generation and somatic cell reprogramming.
- Current cell fusion methods suffer from low yields due to inefficient and random cell-to-cell contact.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a microfluidic device for controlled and efficient pairing of diverse cell types.
- To compare the efficacy of chemical versus electrical fusion protocols using the microfluidic device.
Main Methods:
- A microfluidic device was engineered to trap and align thousands of cells for precise pairing.
- The device was tested with various cell types, including fibroblasts, mouse embryonic stem cells, and myeloma cells.
- Both chemical and electrical fusion methods were applied, and fusion efficiencies were quantified.
Main Results:
- The microfluidic device achieved cell pairing efficiencies of up to 70% for different cell types.
- Electrical fusion demonstrated higher membrane reorganization efficiencies (up to 89%) compared to chemical fusion.
- The device yielded over 50% properly paired and fused cells, a fivefold improvement over a commercial electrofusion chamber.
- Successful reprogramming was observed in hybrids formed between mouse embryonic stem cells and mouse embryonic fibroblasts.
Conclusions:
- The developed microfluidic device significantly enhances cell pairing and fusion efficiency.
- Electrical fusion protocols are more effective within this microfluidic system.
- This technology offers a substantial advancement for cell fusion-based applications, including cell reprogramming.
