Layer-by-layer Collageen depositie in Microfluïdische Inrichtingen voor Microtissue Stabilization
Summary
The creation of functional microtissues within microfluidic devices requires the stabilization of cell phenotypes by adapting traditional cell culture techniques to the limited spatial dimensions in microdevices. Modification of collagen allows the layer-by-layer deposition of ultrathin collagen assemblies that can stabilize primary cells, such as hepatocytes, as microfluidic tissue models.
Abstract
Although microfluidics provides exquisite control of the cellular microenvironment, culturing cells within microfluidic devices can be challenging. 3D culture of cells in collagen type I gels helps to stabilize cell morphology and function, which is necessary for creating microfluidic tissue models in microdevices. Translating traditional 3D culture techniques for tissue culture plates to microfluidic devices is often difficult because of the limited channel dimensions. In this method, we describe a technique for modifying native type I collagen to generate polycationic and polyanionic collagen solutions that can be used with layer-by-layer deposition to create ultrathin collagen assemblies on top of cells cultured in microfluidic devices. These thin collagen layers stabilize cell morphology and function, as shown using primary hepatocytes as an example cell, allowing for the long term culture of microtissues in microfluidic devices.
Introduction
Although microfluidics allows for the exquisite control of the cellular microenvironment, culturing cells, especially primary cells, within microfluidic devices can be challenging. Many traditional cell culture techniques have been developed to sustain and stabilize cell function when cultured in tissue culture plates, but translating those techniques to microfluidic devices is often difficult.
One such technique is the culture of cells on or sandwiched between collagen gels as a model of the physiological 3D cell environment.1 Type I collagen is one of the most frequently used proteins for biomaterials applications because of its ubiquity in extracellular matrix, natural abundance, robust cell attachment sites, and biocompatibility.2 Many cells benefit from 3D culture with collagen, including cancer cells3,45, microvascular endothelial cells6, and hepatocytes7, among others. While the use of collagen gels is easy in open formats, such as tissue culture plates, the limited channel dimensions and enclosed nature of microfluidic devices makes the use of liquids that gel impractical without blocking the entire channel.
To overcome this problem, we combined the layer-by-layer deposition technique8 with chemical modifications of native collagen solutions to create ultrathin collagen assemblies on top of cells cultured in microfluidic devices. These layers can stabilize cell morphology and function similar to collagen gels and can be deposited on cells in microfluidic devices without blocking the channels with polymerized matrix. The goal of this method is to modify native collagen to create polycationic and polyanionic collagen solutions and to stabilize cells in microfluidic culture by depositing thin collagen matrix assemblies onto the cells. This technique has been used to stabilize the morphology and function of primary hepatocytes in microfluidic devices.9
Although layer-by-layer deposition has previously been reported with natural and synthetic polyelectrolytes10 to cover hepatocytes in plate culture11,12 and as a seeding layer for hepatocytes in microfluidic devices13,14, this method describes the deposition of a pure collagen layer on top of hepatocytes, mimicking the 3D collagen culture techniques. In this protocol, we use hepatocytes as example cells that can be maintained using 3D collagen layers. The many other types of cells that benefit from 3D culture in collagen may similarly benefit from culture after layer-by-layer deposition of an ultrathin collagen matrix assembly.
Protocol
Representative Results
Discussion
Ultradunne pure collageen samenstellingen kunnen worden gestort op rekening gebracht cellen of materiaal oppervlakken met behulp van laag-voor-layer deposition van gemodificeerde collageen. De resultaten van deze studie tonen aan dat methylatie en succinylatie van natief collageen maken polykation en polyanion collageen oplossingen (figuur 1) die kan worden gebruikt met de laag-voor-laag techniek om ultradunne collageen matrix samenstellingen afzetten op cellen (figuur 2) of andere gela…
Divulgaciones
The authors have nothing to disclose.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, including a microphysiological systems consortium grant from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (UH2TR000503), a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Postdoctoral Fellowship (F32DK098905 for WJM) and pathway to independence award (DK095984 for AB) from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Materials
| collagen type I, rat tail | Life Technologies | A1048301 | option for concentrated rat tail collagen |
| collagen type I, rat tail | Sigma-Aldrich | C3867-1VL | option for concentrated rat tail collagen |
| collagen type I, rat tail | EMD Millipore | 08-115 | option for concentrated rat tail collagen |
| collagen type I, rat tail | R%D Systems | 3440-100-01 | option for concentrated rat tail collagen |
| succinic anhydride | Sigma-Aldrich | 239690-50G | succinylation reagent |
| anhydrous methanol | Sigma-Aldrich | 322415-100ML | methylation reagent |
| sodium hydroxide | Sigma-Aldrich | S5881-500G | pH precipitation reagent |
| hydrochloric acid | Sigma-Aldrich | 320331-500ML | pH precipitation reagent |
| rat collagen type I ELISA | Chondrex | 6013 | option for detecting collagen content |
| hydroxyproline assay kit | Sigma-Aldrich | MAK008-1KT | option for detecting collagen content |
| hydroxyproline assay kit | Quickzyme Biosciences | QZBtotcol1 | option for detecting collagen content |
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