Optically driven microtools with an antibody-immobilised surface for on-site cell assembly

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Regenerative Medicine
• Microfluidics

Background:

• Accurate in vitro organ reproduction and efficient drug screening are crucial for advancing regenerative medicine.
• Current methods lack the capability for single-cell resolution assembly required for complex tissue formation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel platform for on-site cell assembly at the single-cell level.
• To enable the creation of cell clusters for improved in vitro organoid models and drug screening.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of optically driven microtools using SU-8 photolithography.
• Immobilization of antibodies (targeting CD51/61 and CD44) onto microtool surfaces for specific cell capture.
• Utilizing optical tweezers to manipulate microtools for capturing and assembling cells within a microfluidic device.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated superior cell adhesion rates with antibody-immobilized microtools compared to other surface treatments.
• Successfully assembled multiple cells into clusters by repeating the cell capture process.
• Validated the platform's capability for precise, single-cell level assembly.

Conclusions:

• The developed platform offers a viable method for on-site, single-cell level assembly.
• This technology has significant potential applications in regenerative medicine and drug screening for creating in vivo-like cell clusters.
• The microtool's adaptable geometry and surface function allow for customized cell assembly requirements.