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Optimizing Immunofunctionalization and Cell Capture on Micromolded Hydrogels via Controlled Oxygen-Inhibited
Jing Liu1, Cassidy Enloe1, Katie D Li-Oakey1
1Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, United States.
ACS Applied Bio Materials
|September 29, 2022
Summary
Optimizing hydrogel fabrication for rare cell isolation is crucial for cancer diagnostics. This study reveals that shorter UV exposure and higher linker concentrations improve antibody functionalization and circulating tumor cell (CTC) capture efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Cancer Research
- Microfluidics
Background:
- Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are key to metastasis, making their isolation vital for personalized cancer therapy.
- Current methods for CTC isolation require high yield and purity due to their extreme rarity in patient samples.
- Antibody-functionalized hydrogels offer a promising platform for selective CTC capture within microfluidic devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of oxygen-inhibited photopolymerization on antibody conjugation and CTC capture efficiency in hydrogel microfluidic systems.
- To establish guidelines for optimizing hydrogel fabrication parameters for enhanced CTC isolation.
Main Methods:
- Photopolymerization of antibody-functionalized polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels within polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic molds.
- Systematic variation of UV exposure conditions and acrylate-PEG-biotin linker concentrations.
- Utilizing a 1D reaction-diffusion model to predict acrylate conversion under oxygen inhibition.
- Experimental quantification of hydrogel functionalization and CTC capture efficiency.
Main Results:
- Hydrogel surfaces fabricated with shorter UV exposure times and higher linker concentrations exhibited superior antibody functionalization and CTC capture.
- Highly cross-linked hydrogels, formed under longer UV exposure, showed reduced functionalization and poor CTC capture regardless of linker concentration.
- Oxygen inhibition significantly impacts hydrogel interface properties and necessitates careful control of photopolymerization parameters.
Conclusions:
- Optimizing photopolymerization parameters, specifically reducing UV exposure and increasing linker concentration, is critical for maximizing CTC capture efficiency in immunofunctional hydrogels.
- These findings provide a framework for designing advanced microfluidic devices for sensitive cancer diagnostics and cell-based research.
- The developed strategies enhance the performance of hydrogel biosensors and cell-matrix interaction studies.
