An integrated micro-electro-fluidic and protein arraying system for parallel analysis of cell responses to controlled microenvironments

Integr Biol (Camb). 2010 Sep;2(9):416-23. doi: 10.1039/c0ib00017e. Epub 2010 Aug 10.

Abstract

Living cells have evolved sophisticated signaling networks allowing them to respond to a wide array of external stimuli. Microfluidic devices, facilitating the analysis of signaling networks through precise definition of the cellular microenvironment often lack the capacity of delivering multiple combinations of different signaling cues, thus limiting the throughput of the analysis. To address this limitation, we developed a microfabricated platform combining microfluidic definition of the cell medium composition with dielectrophoretic definition of cell positions and protein microarray-based presentation of diverse signaling inputs. Ligands combined at different concentrations were spotted along with an extracellular matrix protein onto a glass substratum in alignment with an electrode array. This substratum was combined with a polydimethylsiloxane chip for microfluidic control of the soluble medium components, in alignment with the electrode and protein arrays. Endothelial cells were captured by dielectrophoretic force, allowed to attach and spread on the protein spots; and the signaling output of the NF-kappaB pathway in response to diverse combinations of IGF1 and TNF was investigated, in the absence and presence of variable dose of the pathway inhibitor. The results suggested that cells can be potently activated by immobilized TNF with IGF1 having a modulating effect, and the response could be abolished to different degrees by the inhibitor. This study demonstrates considerable potential of combining precise cell patterning and liquid medium control with protein microarray technology for complex cell signaling studies in a high-throughput manner.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Culture Media
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Equipment Design
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • I-kappa B Kinase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / pharmacology
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / instrumentation*
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Protein Array Analysis / instrumentation*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Thiophenes / pharmacology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / pharmacology

Substances

  • Culture Media
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins
  • NF-kappa B
  • SC 514
  • Thiophenes
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
  • I-kappa B Kinase