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A flow-based microfluidic device for spatially quantifying intracellular calcium ion activity during cellular

Joshua Cole1, Zachary Gagnon2

  • 1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA.

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|November 19, 2019
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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

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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.