Reconfigurable microfluidics with integrated aptasensors for monitoring intercellular communication.

ABSTRACT: We report the development of a microsystem integrating anti-TNF-α aptasensors with vacuum-actuatable microfluidic devices that may be used to monitor intercellular communications. Actuatable chambers were used to expose to mitogen a group of ~600 cells while not stimulating another group of monocytes only 600 μm away. Co-localizing groups of cells with miniature 300 μm diameter aptamer-modified electrodes enabled monitoring of TNF-α release from each group independently. The microsystem allowed observation of the sequence of events that included 1) mitogenic activation of the first group of monocytes to produce TNF-α, 2) diffusion of TNF-α to the location of the second group of cells and 3) activation of the second group of cells resulting in the production of TNF-α by these cells. Thus, w

SUBMITTER: Kwa T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4386869 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature