Protocells: Milestones and Recent Advances.

The origin of life is still one of humankind's great mysteries. At the transition between nonliving and living matter, protocells, initially featureless aggregates of abiotic matter, gain the structure and functions necessary to fulfill the criteria of life. Research addressing protocells as a central element in this transition is diverse and increasingly interdisciplinary. The authors review current protocell concepts and research directions, address milestones, challenges and existing hypotheses in the context of conditions on the early Earth, and provide a concise overview of current protocell research methods.

Manipulation of Lipid Membranes with Thermal Stimuli.

We describe a protocol for the assembly and application of infrared (IR-B) laser-based set-ups to be used for localized heating of solid-supported planar and vesicular lipid membrane assemblies.

Dynamic Range Expansion of the C-Reactive Protein Quantification with a Tandem Giant Magnetoresistance Biosensor.

In this study, we report a convenient analytical method for a full-range quantification of the C-reactive protein (CRP), a blood biomarker of infection and cardiovascular events. We determine CRP over the entire diagnostically relevant concentration range in undiluted human blood serum in a single test, using a tandem giant magnetoresistance (GMR) sensor. The tandem principle combines a sandwich assay and a competitive assay, which allows for the discrimination of the concentration values resulting from the multivalued dose-response curve ("Hook" effect), which characterizes the one-step sandwich assay at high CRP concentrations. The sensor covers a linear detection range for CRP concentration from 3 ng/mL to 350 µg/mL, the detection limit (s/n = 3) is 1 ng/mL. The prominent features of the chip-based method are its expanded dynamic range and low sample volume (50 µL), and the need for a short measurement time of 15 min. These figures of merit, in addition to the low detection limit equal to the established assay instrumentation, make it a viable candidate for use in point-of-care diagnostics.

A tandem giant magnetoresistance assay for one-shot quantification of clinically relevant concentrations of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide in human blood.

We report a microfluidic sandwich immunoassay constructed around a dual-giant magnetoresistance (GMR) sensor array to quantify the heart failure biomarker NT-proBNP in human plasma at the clinically relevant concentration levels between 15 pg/mL and 40 ng/mL. The broad dynamic range was achieved by differential coating of two identical GMR sensors operated in tandem, and combining two standard curves. The detection limit was determined as 5 pg/mL. The assay, involving 53 plasma samples from patients with different cardiovascular diseases, was validated against the Roche Cobas e411 analyzer. The salient features of this system are its wide concentration range, low detection limit, small sample volume requirement (50 µL), and the need for a short measurement time of 15 min, making it a prospective candidate for practical use in point of care analysis.

Generation of interconnected vesicles in a liposomal cell model.

We introduce an experimental method based upon a glass micropipette microinjection technique for generating a multitude of interconnected vesicles (IVs) in the interior of a single giant unilamellar phospholipid vesicle (GUV) serving as a cell model system. The GUV membrane, consisting of a mixture of soybean polar lipid extract and anionic phosphatidylserine, is adhered to a multilamellar lipid vesicle that functions as a lipid reservoir. Continuous IV formation was achieved by bringing a micropipette in direct contact with the outer GUV surface and subjecting it to a localized stream of a Ca2+ solution from the micropipette tip. IVs are rapidly and sequentially generated and inserted into the GUV interior and encapsulate portions of the micropipette fluid content. The IVs remain connected to the GUV membrane and are interlinked by short lipid nanotubes and resemble beads on a string. The vesicle chain-growth from the GUV membrane is maintained for as long as there is the supply of membrane material and Ca2+ solution, and the size of the individual IVs is controlled by the diameter of the micropipette tip. We also demonstrate that the IVs can be co-loaded with high concentrations of neurotransmitter and protein molecules and displaying a steep calcium ion concentration gradient across the membrane. These characteristics are analogous to native secretory vesicles and could, therefore, serve as a model system for studying secretory mechanisms in biological systems.

Microfluidic technology for investigation of protein function in single adherent cells.

Instrumental techniques and associated methods for single cell analysis, designed to investigate and measure a broad range of cellular parameters in search of unique features, address key limitations of conventional cell-based assays with their ensemble average response. While many different single cell techniques exist for suspension cultures, which can process and characterize large numbers of individual cells in rapid succession, the access to surface-immobilized cells in typical 2D and 3D culture environments remains challenging. Open space microfluidics has created new possibilities in this area, allowing for exclusive access to single cells in adherent cultures, even at high confluency. In this chapter, we briefly review new microtechnologies for the investigation of protein function in single adherent cells, and present an overview over related recent applications of the multifunctional pipette (Biopen), a microfluidic multi-solution dispensing system that uses hydrodynamic confinement in open volume environments in order to establish a superfusion zone over selected single cells in adherent cultures.

Styrene maleic acid copolymer induces pores in biomembranes.

We investigated the interactions between styrene-maleic acid (SMA) copolymers and phospholipid bilayers, using confocal microscopy and surface acoustic wave resonance (SAR) sensing. For the first time we experimentally observed and followed pore formation by SMA copolymers in intact supported bilayers and unilamellar vesicles, showing that fluorescein, a water-soluble organic compound with a mean diameter of 6.9 Å, can traverse the membrane. Our findings are in agreement with recent theoretical predictions, which suggested that SMA copolymers may insert along the plane of the bilayer to form stable toroidal pores.

Characterization of Binding of Magnetic Nanoparticles to Rolling Circle Amplification Products by Turn-On Magnetic Assay.

The specific binding of oligonucleotide-tagged 100 nm magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) to rolling circle products (RCPs) is investigated using our newly developed differential homogenous magnetic assay (DHMA). The DHMA measures ac magnetic susceptibility from a test and a control samples simultaneously and eliminates magnetic background signal. Therefore, the DHMA can reveal details of binding kinetics of magnetic nanoparticles at very low concentrations of RCPs. From the analysis of the imaginary part of the DHMA signal, we find that smaller MNPs in the particle ensemble bind first to the RCPs. When the RCP concentration increases, we observe the formation of agglomerates, which leads to lower number of MNPs per RCP at higher concentrations of RCPs. The results thus indicate that a full frequency range of ac susceptibility observation is necessary to detect low concentrations of target RCPs and a long amplification time is not required as it does not significantly increase the number of MNPs per RCP. The findings are critical for understanding the underlying microscopic binding process for improving the assay performance. They furthermore suggest DHMA is a powerful technique for dynamically characterizing the binding interactions between MNPs and biomolecules in fluid volumes.

Homogeneous Differential Magnetic Assay.

Assays are widely used for detection of various targets, including pathogens, drugs, and toxins. Homogeneous assays are promising for the realization of point-of-care diagnostics as they do not require separation, immobilization, or washing steps. For low concentrations of target molecules, the speed and sensitivity of homogeneous assays have hitherto been limited by slow binding kinetics, time-consuming amplification steps, and the presence of a high background signal. Here, we present a homogeneous differential magnetic assay that utilizes a differential magnetic readout that eliminates previous limitations of homogeneous assays. The assay uses a gradiometer sensor configuration combined with precise microfluidic sample handling. This enables simultaneous differential measurement of a positive test sample containing a synthesized Vibrio cholerae target and a negative control sample, which reduces the background signal and increases the readout speed. Very low concentrations of targets down to femtomolar levels are thus detectable without any additional amplification of the number of targets. Our homogeneous differential magnetic assay method opens new possibilities for rapid and highly sensitive diagnostics at the point of care.

Molecular Lipid Films on Microengineering Materials.

In this study, we have systematically investigated the formation of molecular phospholipid films on a variety of solid substrates fabricated from typical surface engineering materials and the fluidic properties of the lipid membranes formed on these substrates. The surface materials comprise of borosilicate glass, mica, SiO2, Al (native oxide), Al2O3, TiO2, ITO, SiC, Au, Teflon AF, SU-8, and graphene. We deposited the lipid films from small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs) by means of an open-space microfluidic device, observed the formation and development of the films by laser scanning confocal microscopy, and evaluated the mode and degree of coverage, fluidity, and integrity. In addition to previously established mechanisms of lipid membrane-surface interaction upon bulk addition of SUVs on solid supports, we observed nontrivial lipid adhesion phenomena, including reverse rolling of spreading bilayers, spontaneous nucleation and growth of multilamellar vesicles, and the formation of intact circular patches of double lipid bilayer membranes. Our findings allow for accurate prediction of membrane-surface interactions in microfabricated devices and experimental environments where model membranes are used as functional biomimetic coatings.

Volume-amplified magnetic bioassay integrated with microfluidic sample handling and high-Tc SQUID magnetic readout.

A bioassay based on a high-Tc superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) reading out functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (fMNPs) in a prototype microfluidic platform is presented. The target molecule recognition is based on volume amplification using padlock-probe-ligation followed by rolling circle amplification (RCA). The MNPs are functionalized with single-stranded oligonucleotides, which give a specific binding of the MNPs to the large RCA coil product, resulting in a large change in the amplitude of the imaginary part of the ac magnetic susceptibility. The RCA products from amplification of synthetic Vibrio cholera target DNA were investigated using our SQUID ac susceptibility system in microfluidic channel with an equivalent sample volume of 3 µl. From extrapolation of the linear dependence of the SQUID signal versus concentration of the RCA coils, it is found that the projected limit of detection for our system is about 1.0 × 105 RCA coils (0.2 × 10-18 mol), which is equivalent to 66 fM in the 3 µl sample volume. This ultra-high magnetic sensitivity and integration with microfluidic sample handling are critical steps towards magnetic bioassays for rapid detection of DNA and RNA targets at the point of care.

Peridynamic Modeling of Ruptures in Biomembranes.

We simulate the formation of spontaneous ruptures in supported phospholipid double bilayer membranes, using peridynamic modeling. Experiments performed on spreading double bilayers typically show two distinct kinds of ruptures, floral and fractal, which form spontaneously in the distal (upper) bilayer at late stages of double bilayer formation on high energy substrates. It is, however, currently unresolved which factors govern the occurrence of either rupture type. Variations in the distance between the two bilayers, and the occurrence of interconnections ("pinning sites") are suspected of contributing to the process. Our new simulations indicate that the pinned regions which form, presumably due to Ca2+ ions serving as bridging agent between the distal and the proximal bilayer, act as nucleation sites for the ruptures. Moreover, assuming that the pinning sites cause a non-zero shear modulus, our simulations also show that they change the rupture mode from floral to fractal. At zero shear modulus the pores appear to be circular, subsequently evolving into floral pores. With increasing shear modulus the pore edges start to branch, favoring fractal morphologies. We conclude that the pinning sites may indirectly determine the rupture morphology by contributing to shear stress in the distal membrane.

Spatial characterization of a multifunctional pipette for drug delivery in hippocampal brain slices.

BACKGROUND: Among the various fluidic control technologies, microfluidic devices are becoming powerful tools for pharmacological studies using brain slices, since these devices overcome traditional limitations of conventional submerged slice chambers, leading to better spatiotemporal control over delivery of drugs to specific regions in the slices. However, microfluidic devices are not yet fully optimized for such studies. NEW METHOD: We have recently developed a multifunctional pipette (MFP), a free standing hydrodynamically confined microfluidic device, which provides improved spatiotemporal control over drug delivery to biological tissues. RESULTS: We demonstrate herein the ability of the MFP to selectively perfuse one dendritic layer in the CA1 region of hippocampus with CNQX, an AMPA receptor antagonist, while not affecting the other layers in this region. Our experiments also illustrate the essential role of hydrodynamic confinement in sharpening the spatial selectivity in brain slice experiments. Concentration-response measurements revealed that the ability of the MFP to control local drug concentration is comparable with that of whole slice perfusion, while in comparison the required amounts of active compounds can be reduced by several orders of magnitude. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD: The multifunctional pipette is applied with an angle, which, compared to other hydrodynamically confined microfluidic devices, provides more accessible space for other probing and imaging techniques. CONCLUSIONS: Using the MFP it will be possible to study selected regions of brain slices, integrated with various imaging and probing techniques, without affecting the other parts of the slices.

A heating-superfusion platform technology for the investigation of protein function in single cells.

Here, we report on a novel approach for the study of single-cell intracellular enzyme activity at various temperatures, utilizing a localized laser heating probe in combination with a freely positionable microfluidic perfusion device. Through directed exposure of individual cells to the pore-forming agent α-hemolysin, we have controlled the membrane permeability, enabling targeted delivery of the substrate. Mildly permeabilized cells were exposed to fluorogenic substrates to monitor the activity of intracellular enzymes, while adjusting the local temperature surrounding the target cells, using an infrared laser heating system. We generated quantitative estimates for the intracellular alkaline phosphatase activity at five different temperatures in different cell lines, constructing temperature-response curves of enzymatic activity at the single-cell level. Enzymatic activity was determined rapidly after cell permeation, generating five-point temperature-response curves within just 200 s.

Nanopatterning of mobile lipid monolayers on electron-beam-sculpted Teflon AF surfaces.

Direct electron-beam lithography is used to fabricate nanostructured Teflon AF surfaces, which are utilized to pattern surface-supported monolayer phospholipid films with 50 nm lateral feature size. In comparison with unexposed Teflon AF coatings, e-beam-irradiated areas show reduced surface tension and surface potential. For phospholipid monolayer spreading experiments, these areas can be designed to function as barriers that enclose unexposed areas of nanometer dimensions and confine the lipid film within. We show that the effectiveness of the barrier is defined by pattern geometry and radiation dose. This surface preparation technique represents an efficient, yet simple, nanopatterning strategy supporting studies of lipid monolayer behavior in ultraconfined spaces. The generated structures are useful for imaging studies of biomimetic membranes and other specialized surface applications requiring spatially controlled formation of self-assembled, molecularly thin films on optically transparent patterned polymer surfaces with very low autofluorescence.

A rapid microfluidic technique for integrated viability determination of adherent single cells.

Here, we report on a novel protocol for determining the viability of individual cells in an adherent cell culture, without adversely affecting the remaining cells in the sample. This is facilitated using a freestanding microfluidic perfusion device, the Multifunctional Pipette (MFP), which generates a virtual flow cell around selected single cells. We investigated the utility on four different cell lines, NG108-15, HEK 293, PC12, and CHO, and combined the assay with a cell poration experiment, in which we apply the pore-forming agent digitonin, followed by fluorescein diphosphate, a pre-fluorescent substrate for alkaline phosphatase, in order to monitor intracellular enzyme activity. The cell viability was instantly assessed through simultaneous perfusion with fluorescein diacetate (FDA) and propidium iodide (PI), both being dispensed through the same superfusion device used to porate and deliver the enzyme substrate. In this fluorescence assay, viable and non-viable cells were distinguished by their green and red emission, respectively, within 10 s. In addition, the enzyme activity was monitored over time as a secondary test for cellular activity. Our findings demonstrate that this microfluidic technology-assisted approach is a facile, rapid, and reliable means to determine the viability in single-cell experiments and that viability studies can be performed routinely alongside typical substrate delivery protocols. This approach would remove the need for global cell viability testing and would enable viability studies of only the cells under experimental analysis.

Lab on a Biomembrane: rapid prototyping and manipulation of 2D fluidic lipid bilayers circuits.

Lipid bilayer membranes are among the most ubiquitous structures in the living world, with intricate structural features and a multitude of biological functions. It is attractive to recreate these structures in the laboratory, as this allows mimicking and studying the properties of biomembranes and their constituents, and to specifically exploit the intrinsic two-dimensional fluidity. Even though diverse strategies for membrane fabrication have been reported, the development of related applications and technologies has been hindered by the unavailability of both versatile and simple methods. Here we report a rapid prototyping technology for two-dimensional fluidic devices, based on in-situ generated circuits of phospholipid films. In this "lab on a molecularly thin membrane", various chemical and physical operations, such as writing, erasing, functionalization, and molecular transport, can be applied to user-defined regions of a membrane circuit. This concept is an enabling technology for research on molecular membranes and their technological use.

Probing enzymatic activity inside single cells.

We report a novel approach for determining the enzymatic activity within a single suspended cell. Using a steady-state microfluidic delivery device and timed exposure to the pore-forming agent digitonin, we controlled the plasma membrane permeation of individual NG108-15 cells. Mildly permeabilized cells (~100 pores) were exposed to a series of concentrations of fluorescein diphosphate (FDP), a fluorogenic alkaline phosphatase substrate, with and without levamisole, an alkaline phosphatase inhibitor. We generated quantitative estimates for intracellular enzyme activity and were able to construct both dose-response and dose-inhibition curves at the single-cell level, resulting in an apparent Michaelis contant Km of 15.3 µM ± 1.02 (mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM), n = 16) and an inhibition constant Ki of 0.59 mM ± 0.07 (mean ± SEM, n = 14). Enzymatic activity could be monitored just 40 s after permeabilization, and five point dose-inhibition curves could be obtained within 150 s. This rapid approach offers a new methodology for characterizing enzyme activity within single cells.

A multifunctional pipette for localized drug administration to brain slices.

We have developed a superfusion method utilizing an open-volume microfluidic device for administration of pharmacologically active substances to selected areas in brain slices with high spatio-temporal resolution. The method consists of a hydrodynamically confined flow of the active chemical compound, which locally stimulates neurons in brain slices, applied in conjunction with electrophysiological recording techniques to analyze the response. The microfluidic device, which is a novel free-standing multifunctional pipette, allows diverse superfusion experiments, such as testing the effects of different concentrations of drugs or drug candidates on neurons in different cell layers with high positional accuracy, affecting only a small number of cells. We demonstrate herein the use of the method with electrophysiological recordings of pyramidal cells in hippocampal and prefrontal cortex brain slices from rats, determine the dependence of electric responses on the distance of the superfusion device from the recording site, document a multifold gain in solution exchange time as compared to whole slice perfusion, and show that the device is able to store and deliver up to four solutions in a series. Localized solution delivery by means of open-volume microfluidic technology also reduces reagent consumption and tissue culture expenses significantly, while allowing more data to be collected from a single tissue slice, thus reducing the number of laboratory animals to be sacrificed for a study.

Thermal migration of molecular lipid films as a contactless fabrication strategy for lipid nanotube networks.

We demonstrate the contactless generation of lipid nanotube networks by means of thermally induced migration of flat giant unilamellar vesicles (FGUVs), covering micro-scale areas on oxidized aluminum surfaces. A temperature gradient with a reach of 20 µm was generated using a focused IR laser, leading to a surface adhesion gradient, along which FGUVs could be relocated. We report on suitable lipid-substrate combinations, highlighting the critical importance of the electrostatic interactions between the engineered substrate and the membrane for reversible migration of intact vesicles.