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Mechanically activated artificial cell by using microfluidics.

Kenneth K Y Ho1, Lap Man Lee1, Allen P Liu1,2,3,4

  • 1Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America.

Scientific Reports
|September 10, 2016
PubMed
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Researchers engineered force-sensing artificial cells using a novel microfluidic device. These mechanosensitive cells respond to mechanical forces by altering oil thickness and allowing ion influx, opening new avenues in synthetic biology.

Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Synthetic Biology
  • Microfluidics

Background:

  • Living organisms sense and respond to mechanical forces.
  • Artificial cells offer a model system to study complex biological phenomena.
  • Understanding mechanosensation is key to developing responsive biomimetic systems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To engineer mechanosensitive artificial cells capable of responding to mechanical forces.
  • To develop a novel microfluidic device for controlled mechanical activation of artificial cells.
  • To demonstrate force-induced changes in artificial cell structure and function.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized stable double emulsion droplets (aqueous/oil/aqueous) as artificial cells.
  • Developed a multilayer soft lithography microfluidic device with pneumatic valves for precise control.

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  • Applied compression and aspiration to double emulsions within microfluidic chambers.
  • Monitored changes in oil thickness and calcium ion influx.

    • Main Results:

    • Successfully compressed and aspirated double emulsion artificial cells.
    • Observed a transient increase and permanent decrease in oil thickness upon mechanical stress.
    • Demonstrated calcium ion influx as a response to mechanical activation via oil thinning.
    • Validated the mechanosensitive properties of the engineered artificial cells.

    Conclusions:

    • Developed a functional mechanosensitive artificial cell system.
    • The novel microfluidic device enables controlled mechanical stimulation and analysis of artificial cells.
    • This work provides a platform for force-activated synthetic biology and biomimetic research.