Femtosecond laser-patterned nanopore arrays for surface-mediated peptide treatment.

The major goal of this study was to create easy-to-use, reusable substrates capable of storing any peptides or bioactive molecules for a desired period of time until cells uptake them without the need for bioactive molecule or peptide-specific techniques. Nanopore arrays of uniform size and distribution were machined into fused silica substrates using femtosecond laser ablation and loaded with peptides by simple adsorption. The nanopore substrates were validated by examining the effect of N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) loaded nanopores on macrophage phagocytosis and intracellular production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) with and without the pro-inflammatory lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Our results demonstrated that nanopores were generated in a uniform array fashion. Ac-SDKP peptides were stably stored in nanopores and internalized by macrophages. Significant reductions in ROS production and phagocytosis in macrophages were observed over control substrates, even in combination with LPS stimulation, indicating that loading Ac-SDKP peptides in pores significantly improved the anti-inflammatory effects. FROM THE CLINICAL EDITOR: This team of scientists intended to create easy-to-use, reusable substrates for storing peptides or bioactive molecules for a desired period of time before cellular uptake occurs, and without the need for bioactive molecule or peptide-specific techniques. They demonstrate the successful generation of nanopores in a uniform array that stably stores Ac-SDKP peptides in the nanopores. When peptides were internalized by macrophages, significant reductions in ROS production and phagocytosis were observed, indicating improved anti-inflammatory effects.

Rapid, single-molecule assays in nano/micro-fluidic chips with arrays of closely spaced parallel channels fabricated by femtosecond laser machining.

Cost-effective pharmaceutical drug discovery depends on increasing assay throughput while reducing reagent needs. To this end, we are developing an ultrasensitive, fluorescence-based platform that incorporates a nano/micro-fluidic chip with an array of closely spaced channels for parallelized optical readout of single-molecule assays. Here we describe the use of direct femtosecond laser machining to fabricate several hundred closely spaced channels on the surfaces of fused silica substrates. The channels are sealed by bonding to a microscope cover slip spin-coated with a thin film of poly(dimethylsiloxane). Single-molecule detection experiments are conducted using a custom-built, wide-field microscope. The array of channels is epi-illuminated by a line-generating red diode laser, resulting in a line focus just a few microns thick across a 500 micron field of view. A dilute aqueous solution of fluorescently labeled biomolecules is loaded into the device and fluorescence is detected with an electron-multiplying CCD camera, allowing acquisition rates up to 7 kHz for each microchannel. Matched digital filtering based on experimental parameters is used to perform an initial, rapid assessment of detected fluorescence. More detailed analysis is obtained through fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. Simulated fluorescence data is shown to agree well with experimental values.

Ultrathin Polymer Membranes with Patterned, Micrometric Pores for Organs-on-Chips.

The basal lamina or basement membrane (BM) is a key physiological system that participates in physicochemical signaling between tissue types. Its formation and function are essential in tissue maintenance, growth, angiogenesis, disease progression, and immunology. In vitro models of the BM (e.g., Boyden and transwell chambers) are common in cell biology and lab-on-a-chip devices where cells require apical and basolateral polarization. Extravasation, intravasation, membrane transport of chemokines, cytokines, chemotaxis of cells, and other key functions are routinely studied in these models. The goal of the present study was to integrate a semipermeable ultrathin polymer membrane with precisely positioned pores of 2 µm diameter in a microfluidic device with apical and basolateral chambers. We selected poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA), a transparent biocompatible polymer, to prepare the semipermeable ultrathin membranes. The pores were generated by pattern transfer using a three-step method coupling femtosecond laser machining, polymer replication, and spin coating. Each step of the fabrication process was characterized by scanning electron microscopy to investigate reliability of the process and fidelity of pattern transfer. In order to evaluate the compatibility of the fabrication method with organs-on-a-chip technology, porous PLLA membranes were embedded in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic devices and used to grow human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECS) on top of the membrane with perfusion through the basolateral chamber. Viability of cells, optical transparency of membranes and strong adhesion of PLLA to PDMS were observed, thus confirming the suitability of the prepared membranes for use in organs-on-a-chip devices.

Patterned polymer matrix promotes stemness and cell-cell interaction of adult stem cells.

BACKGROUND: The interaction of stem cells with their culture substrates is critical in controlling their fate and function. Declining stemness of adult-derived human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) during in vitro expansion on tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS) severely limits their therapeutic efficacy prior to cell transplantation into damaged tissues. Thus, various formats of natural and synthetic materials have been manipulated in attempts to reproduce in vivo matrix environments in which hMSCs reside. RESULTS: We developed a series of patterned polymer matrices for cell culture by hot-pressing poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) films in femtosecond laser-ablated nanopore molds, forming nanofibers on flat PCL substrates. hMSCs cultured on these PCL fiber matrices significantly increased expression of critical self-renewal factors, Nanog and OCT4A, as well as markers of cell-cell interaction PECAM and ITGA2. The results suggest the patterned polymer fiber matrix is a promising model to maintain the stemness of adult hMSCs. CONCLUSION: This approach meets the need for scalable, highly repeatable, and tuneable models that mimic extracellular matrix features that signal for maintenance of hMSC stemness.