biostudies-literatureKhan MNational Basic Research Program of ChinaNational Natural Science Foundation of China1900778https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6794618biostudies-literatureUnknown6(20)Tumor cells exhibit prominent metabolic alterations through which they acclimatize to their stressful microenvironment. These cells have a high rate of glutaminolysis and release ammonia (NH₃) as a byproduct, which may function as a diffusible signal among cancer cells and can reveal cellular heterogeneity. E7, a nematic liquid crystal (LC), is doped with 4-pentyl-4'-biphenyl carboxylic acid (PBA) and encapsulated in polymeric microcapsules (P-E7_PBA), which are then immobilized on cells in a microfluidic channel. Normal human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and myeloma, human primary glioblastoma (U87), human colon carcinoma (Caco-2), and human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cells are investigated for the release of NH₃. The P-E7_PBA is able to visualize NH₃ release from the cell via a radial-to-bipolar (R-B) orientation change, observed through a polarized optical microscope. The various cell lines significantly differ in their response time required for an R-B change. The mean response times for Caco-2, U87, and MCF-7 cells are 277, 155, and 121 s, respectively. NH₃ release from a single cell captured in a microwell flow chip shows a similar R-B change. The P-E7_PBA droplets technology could be applied to other multiple targets by functionalizing LCs with different probes.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)Real-Time Imaging of Ammonia Release from Single Live Cells via Liquid Crystal Droplets Immobilized on the Cell Membrane.PMC679461821435002216210032017YFC090680021727814Li WMao SKhan MLin JMShah SNAfalseReal-Time Imaging of Ammonia Release from Single Live Cells via Liquid Crystal Droplets Immobilized on the Cell Membrane.Tumor cells exhibit prominent metabolic alterations through which they acclimatize to their stressful microenvironment. These cells have a high rate of glutaminolysis and release ammonia (NH₃) as a byproduct, which may function as a diffusible signal among cancer cells and can reveal cellular heterogeneity. E7, a nematic liquid crystal (LC), is doped with 4-pentyl-4'-biphenyl carboxylic acid (PBA) and encapsulated in polymeric microcapsules (P-E7_PBA), which are then immobilized on cells in a microfluidic channel. Normal human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and myeloma, human primary glioblastoma (U87), human colon carcinoma (Caco-2), and human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cells are investigated for the release of NH₃. The P-E7_PBA is able to visualize NH₃ release from the cell via a radial-to-bipolar (R-B) orientation change, observed through a polarized optical microscope. The various cell lines significantly differ in their response time required for an R-B change. The mean response times for Caco-2, U87, and MCF-7 cells are 277, 155, and 121 s, respectively. NH₃ release from a single cell captured in a microwell flow chip shows a similar R-B change. The P-E7_PBA droplets technology could be applied to other multiple targets by functionalizing LCs with different probes.2019-01-01T00:00:00Z2019 Oct2024-11-12T12:09:27.786Z2019-11-05T08:06:19ZS-EPMC67946183163715910.1002/advs.201900778