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A flow-based microfluidic device for spatially quantifying intracellular calcium ion activity during cellular
1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA.
Biomicrofluidics
|November 19, 2019
Summary
Researchers developed a novel microfluidic device to study cell migration using electrical fields (electrotaxis). This method quantifies cell movement and ion activity, revealing calcium
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Biophysics
- Microfluidics
Background:
- Cellular sensing and response to external cues are vital for biological processes like development and disease.
- Electrotaxis, or galvanotaxis, is directional cell migration influenced by electrical fields.
- Existing methods for studying electrotaxis often involve salt bridges, which can complicate analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a new microfluidic device for studying electrotaxis without salt bridges.
- To enable simultaneous imaging of cell motility and intracellular ion activity during electrotaxis.
- To investigate the role of intracellular calcium during electrotaxis in *Dictyostelium discoideum*.
Main Methods:
- A flow-based, salt bridge-free microfluidic device with 2 μm thick channels was designed.
- Low nanoliter flow rates were used to remove electrical waste products.
- The device allowed for quantification of electrotactic velocity and intracellular calcium dynamics.
Main Results:
- The device successfully quantified the electrotactic velocity of *Dictyostelium discoideum* cells.
- Intracellular calcium was observed to translocate to the leading edge during electrotaxis.
- This calcium translocation was specific to electrotaxis and not observed during chemotaxis or free migration.
Conclusions:
- The developed microfluidic device offers a robust platform for studying cell electrotaxis and ion dynamics.
- Intracellular calcium redistribution is a key feature of electrotaxis in *Dictyostelium discoideum*.
- This finding provides insights into the mechanisms of directed cell migration.
