Single cell manipulation, analytics, and label-free protein detection in microfluidic devices for systems nanobiology

Single cell analytics for proteomic analysis is considered a key method in the framework of systems nanobiology which allows a novel proteomics without being subjected to ensemble-averaging, cell-cycle, or cell-population effects. We are currently developing a single cell analytical method for protein fingerprinting combining a structured microfluidic device with latest optical laser technology for single cell manipulation (trapping and steering), free-solution electrophoretical protein separation, and (label-free) protein detection. In this paper we report on first results of this novel analytical device focusing on three main issues. First, single biological cells were trapped, injected, steered, and deposited by means of optical tweezers in a poly(dimethylsiloxane) microfluidic device and consecutively lysed with SDS at a predefined position. Second, separation and detection of fluorescent dyes, amino acids, and proteins were achieved with LIF detection in the visible (VIS) (488 nm) as well as in the deep UV (266 nm) spectral range for label-free, native protein detection. Minute concentrations of 100 fM injected fluorescein could be detected in the VIS and a first protein separation and label-free detection could be achieved in the UV spectral range. Third, first analytical experiments with single Sf9 insect cells (Spodoptera frugiperda) in a tailored microfluidic device exhibiting distinct electropherograms of a green fluorescent protein-construct proved the validity of the concept. Thus, the presented microfluidic concept allows novel and fascinating single cell experiments for systems nanobiology in the future.     

微流控芯片化学发光检测系统研究

在微流控芯片上实现了鲁米诺-过氧化氢-Co2+化学发光反应及分析应用研究。探讨了分离电压对电泳图谱的影响,发现在选定实验条件下,Co2+检出限可达到2.0×10-6mol/L;并且在微流控芯片上实现了Co2+与Cu2+的快速分离及检测。     

Effects of viscosity on droplet formation and mixing in microfluidic channels

This paper characterizes the conditions required to form nanoliter-sized droplets (plugs) of viscous aqueous reagents in flows of immiscible carrier fluid within microfluidic channels. For both non-viscous (viscosity of 2.0 mPa s) and viscous (viscosity of 18 mPa s) aqueous solutions, plugs formed reliably in a flow of water-immiscible carrier fluid for Capillary number less than 0.01, although plugs were able to form at higher Capillary numbers at lower ratios of the aqueous phase flow rate to the flow rate of the carrier fluid (in all the experiments performed, the Reynolds number was less than 1). The paper also shows that combining viscous and non-viscous reagents can enhance mixing in droplets moving through straight microchannels by providing a nearly ideal initial distribution of reagents within each droplet. The study should facilitate the use of this droplet-based microfluidic platform for investigation of protein crystallization, kinetics, and assays.     

Multilayer poly(vinyl alcohol)-adsorbed coating on poly(dimethylsiloxane) microfluidic chips for biopolymer separation

A poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microfluidic chip surface was modified by multilayer-adsorbed and heat-immobilized poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) after oxygen plasma treatment. The reflection absorption infrared spectrum (RAIRS) showed that 88% hydrolyzed PVA adsorbed more strongly than 100% hydrolyzed one on the oxygen plasma-pretreated PDMS surface, and they all had little adsorption on original PDMS surface. Repeating the coating procedure three times was found to produce the most robust and effective coating. PVA coating converted the original PDMS surface from a hydrophobic one into a hydrophilic surface, and suppressed electroosmotic flow (EOF) in the range of pH 3-11. More than 1,000,000 plates/m and baseline resolution were obtained for separation of fluorescently labeled basic proteins (lysozyme, ribonuclease B). Fluorescently labeled acidic proteins (bovine serum albumin, beta-lactoglobulin) and fragments of dsDNA phiX174 RF/HaeIII were also separated satisfactorily in the three-layer 88% PVA-coated PDMS microchip. Good separation of basic proteins was obtained for about 70 consecutive runs.     

Microdevices for manipulation and accumulation of micro- and nanoparticles by dielectrophoresis

Microfluidic devices with three-dimensional (3-D) arrays of microelectrodes embedded in microchannels have been developed to study dielectrophoretic forces acting on synthetic micro- and nanoparticles. In particular, so-called deflector structures were used to separate particles according to their size and to enable accumulation of a fraction of interest into a small sample volume for further analysis. Particle velocity within the microchannels was measured by video microscopy and the hydrodynamic friction forces exerted on deflected particles were determined according to Stokes law. These results lead to an absolute measure of the dielectrophoretic forces and allowed for a quantitative test of the underlying theory. In summary, the influence of channel height, particle size, buffer composition, electric field, strength and frequency on the dielectrophoretic force and the effectiveness of dielectrophoretic deflection structures were determined. For this purpose, microfluidic devices have been developed comprising pairs of electrodes extending into fluid channels on both top and bottom side of the microfluidic channels. Electrodes were aligned under angles varying from 0 to 75 degrees with respect to the direction of flow. Devices with channel height varying between 5 and 50 microm were manufactured. Fabrication involved a dedicated bonding technology using a mask aligner and UV-curing adhesive. Particles with radius ranging from 250 nm to 12 microm were injected into the channels using aqueous buffer solutions.     

Composite poly(dimethylsiloxane)/glass microfluidic system with an immobilized enzymatic particle-bed reactor and sequential sample injection for chemiluminescence determinations

A three-layer poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)/glass microfluidic system for performing on-chip solid-phase enzymatic reaction and chemiluminescence (CL) reaction was used for the determination of glucose as a model analyte. A novel method for the immobilization of controlled-pore-glass based reactive particles on PDMS microreactor beds was developed, producing an on-chip solid-phase reactor that featured large reactive surface and low flow impedance. Efficient mixing of reagent/sample/carrier streams was achieved by incorporating chaotic mixer structures in the microfluidic channels. A conventional sequential injection (SI) system was adapted for direct coupling with the microfluidic system, and combined with hydrostatic delivery of reagents to achieve efficient and reproducible sample introduction at 10 μl levels. A detection limit of 10 μM glucose (3σ), and a precision of 3.1% RSD (n=7, 0.2 mM glucose) were obtained using the SI-microfluidic-CL system integrated with a glucose oxidase (GOD) reactor. Carryover was <5% at a throughput of 20 samples/h.     

基于侧向磁泳的微流控芯片对两种磁性纳米球的同时分选

基于磁性纳米球在微流控芯片上的侧向磁泳,利用微流控芯片分选了不同磁响应性的磁球.提出了包含磁性纳米球聚集与偏移的理论模型,用于分析磁球在芯片上的侧向位移.在理论分析的基础上设计了芯片系统,使不同磁响应性的磁纳米球可以在芯片系统上依次被分选.实验结果表明,2种磁性纳米球的分选效率均可接受,且实验操作简单;磁响应性强的磁球可被完全分离,这对于珍贵分析样品的分选很有价值.该分选系统被成功用于同时分选样品中乙型肝炎病毒的DNA与丙型肝炎病毒的反转录DNA,在生化分析中具有广阔的应用前景.     

芯片毛细管电泳集成电化学检测装置和4种碳纤维电极的比较研究

自行设计组装了微流控芯片安培检测系统,以自制的碳纤维微米电极、碳纤维纳米电极、单壁碳纳米管修饰的碳纤维微米电极以及碳纤维微盘电极等4种电极为检测器,采用柱末检测的模式,考察了其对儿茶酚胺类物质多巴胺与异丙肾上腺素的分离检测效果以及电极的灵敏度。结果表明,在检测电位为0.6V、0.02mol/LTris-HCl(pH8.0)为缓冲溶液的优化条件下,检测多巴胺与异丙肾上腺素的分离度分别为0.64、1.06、0.61和1.22;灵敏度(S/N=3)分别为1.7×10-7、5.9×10-8、2.3×10-8和5.3×10-7,碳纤维纳米电极同时具备了较高的分离度与灵敏度。将碳纤维纳米电极应用于测定鼠嗜铬神经细胞瘤细胞(PC12)中神经递质多巴胺,以异丙肾上腺素为内标,测得单个PC12细胞中多巴胺含量为(0.57±0.07)fmol(n=5),与文献报道值相符。     

阵列微流控浓度梯度网络用于细胞-化学刺激反应研究

设计和制作了具有5组平行浓度梯度形成网络和30个细胞培养池的微流控芯片,该芯片集成了细胞接种、培养、梯度浓度化学刺激、标记和检测等功能单元。芯片为玻璃-PDMS杂合结构,微流控通道刻蚀于玻璃层。芯片细胞培养池设计了系列围堰结构以利于细胞贴壁。细胞接种、灌流培养和试剂引入通过外接微量注射泵控制完成。该芯片可以生成连续、稳定的平行浓度梯度。观察发现,围堰结构有利于细胞接种和生长,乳腺癌MCF-7细胞在芯片灌流培养条件下生长良好。利用该芯片检测了在接受As2O3和乙酰丝氨酸(NAC)梯度浓度刺激后乳腺癌MCF-7细胞内谷胱甘肽(GSH)水平以及细胞阿霉素敏感性的变化,分析乳腺癌细胞阿霉素敏感性与细胞内GSH水平的关系。MCF-7细胞内GSH水平的变化与刺激药物浓度呈剂量-效应依赖关系,在接受As2O3刺激后GSH水平有所下降;而在接受NAC刺激后GSH水平有所升高。MCF-7细胞阿霉素敏感性与GSH水平相关。在降低GSH水平后药物敏感性升高;而升高细胞内GSH水平后敏感性降低。这种阵列微流控浓度梯度网络可以用于高通量细胞-化学刺激反应研究,有潜力成为细胞水平大规模药物筛选的技术平台。     

玻璃芯片上温控微阀的制备和微流体控制性能研究

聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺(PNIPAAm)在临界温度(32 ℃)附近会发生敏锐的相变, 导致其体积和表面亲疏水性的突变. 利用这种由温度刺激引起的体积变化, 可以控制微通道内微流体的运动状态. 本文以2-羟基-2-甲基-1-苯基丙酮为引发剂, 水-乙醇混合体系为溶剂, 在玻璃芯片通道内局部区域以紫外光诱导聚合PNIPAAm整体柱塞, 制备温控微阀. 系统地考察了聚合条件对该阀的形态和性能的影响. 在此基础上, 建立了一个芯片上的集成化单温控阀流动注射分析模型, 利用镁离子与荧光探针O,O'-二羟基偶氮苯的螯合荧光反应, 表征温控微阀的控流效果. 结果表明, 所制作的微阀温控效果良好, 在微流控领域有应用前景.