In-channel printing-device opening assay for micropatterning multiple cells and gene analysis

Herein we report an easy but versatile method for patterning different cells on a single substrate by using a microfluidic approach that allows not only spatial and temporal control of multiple microenvironments but also retrieval of specific treated cells to profile their expressed genetic information at around 10-cell resolution. By taking advantages of increased surface area of gold nanoparticles on a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) coated substrate, cell adhesive-promotive protein, human fibronectin (hFN) can be significantly accumulated on designed regions where cells can recognize the protein and spread out. Moreover, the whole device can be easily opened by hand without any loss of patterned cells which could be retrieved by mouth-pipet. Consequently, we demonstrate the possibility of analyzing the difference of gene expression patterns between wild type MCF-7 cell and MCF/Adr (drug-resistant cell line) from less than 400 cells in total for a single comprehensive assay, including parallel experiments, controls, and multiple dose treatments. Certain genes, especially the P-glycoprotein coding gene (ABCB1), show high expression level in resistant cells compared with the wild type, suggesting a possible pathway that may contribute to the antidrug mechanism.