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A Versatile Automated Platform for Micro-scale Cell Stimulation Experiments
Published on: August 6, 2013
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Integrated platform for cell culture and dynamic quantification of cell secretion
Alicia J Kaestli1, Michael Junkin, Savaş Tay
1Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Mattenstrasse 26, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.
Lab on a Chip
|November 3, 2017
Summary
This study introduces an automated microfluidic chip for measuring dynamic cell responses, including cytokine secretion and transcription factor activation, to changing stimuli like inflammation. The system simplifies complex cellular investigations with integrated automation.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cellular Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Understanding dynamic cellular responses to time-varying stimuli is crucial for modeling complex biological processes like inflammation.
- Current methods for measuring cytokine secretion and transcription factor activation often involve complex, multi-step protocols.
- Microfluidic devices offer potential for high-throughput and automated cellular analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate an automated microfluidic chip for simultaneous measurement of dynamic cytokine secretion and transcription factor activation.
- To enable the study of cellular responses under physiologically relevant, time-varying conditions.
- To simplify and improve the accuracy of microfluidic-based cellular investigations.
Main Methods:
- Development of a microfluidic chip capable of antibody patterning, controlled cell exposure to time-varying stimuli, and in-situ immunoassay.
- Automation of the entire experimental workflow, from device preparation to secretion quantification.
- Simulation of an immune response by exposing macrophages to varying levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to measure nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activity and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) secretion.
Main Results:
- The automated microfluidic chip successfully measured dynamic cytokine secretion (TNF) and transcription factor activation (NF-κB) in macrophages.
- The system quantified cellular responses to simulated chronic and increasing inflammatory stimuli.
- Demonstrated the capability to measure secretion dynamics using micrometer-sized immunoassays within the chip.
Conclusions:
- The integrated automated microfluidic system simplifies protocols for studying cell responses to dynamic and relevant conditions.
- This platform provides a more efficient and error-free method for microfluidic cellular investigations.
- Enables detailed analysis of cellular signaling pathways and cytokine production under complex inflammatory scenarios.
