MicroPrep: chip-based dielectrophoretic purification of mitochondria.

We have developed a microfluidic system--microPrep--for subcellular fractionation of cell homogenates based on dielectrophoretic sorting. Separation of mitochondria isolated from a human lymphoblastoid cell line was monitored by fluorescence microscopy and further characterized by western blot analysis. Robust high throughput and continuous long-term operation for up to 60 h of the microPrep chip system with complex biological samples became feasible as a result of a comprehensive set of technical measures: (i) coating of the inner surfaces of the chip with BSA, (ii) application of mechanical actuators to induce periodic flow patterns, (iii) efficient cooling of the device to ensure integrity of organelle, (iv) a wide channel to provide for high fluidic throughput, and (v) integration of a serial arrangement of 10 dielectrophoretic deflector units to enable separation of samples with a high particle load without clogging. Hence, microPrep yields tens of micrograms of enriched and purified mitochondria within hours. Western blots of mitochondria fractions showed that contaminating endoplasmatic reticulum was reduced by a factor 6 when compared with samples prepared by state of the art centrifugation.

Systematic Investigation of Polyurethane Biomaterial Surface Roughness on Human Immune Responses in vitro.

It has been widely shown that biomaterial surface topography can modulate host immune response, but a fundamental understanding of how different topographies contribute to pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory responses is still lacking. To investigate the impact of surface topography on immune response, we undertook a systematic approach by analyzing immune response to eight grades of medical grade polyurethane of increasing surface roughness in three in vitro models of the human immune system. Polyurethane specimens were produced with defined roughness values by injection molding according to the VDI 3400 industrial standard. Specimens ranged from 0.1 µm to 18 µm in average roughness (Ra), which was confirmed by confocal scanning microscopy. Immunological responses were assessed with THP-1-derived macrophages, human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and whole blood following culture on polyurethane specimens. As shown by the release of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in all three models, a mild immune response to polyurethane was observed, however, this was not associated with the degree of surface roughness. Likewise, the cell morphology (cell spreading, circularity, and elongation) in THP-1-derived macrophages and the expression of CD molecules in the PBMC model on T cells (HLA-DR and CD16), NK cells (HLA-DR), and monocytes (HLA-DR, CD16, CD86, and CD163) showed no influence of surface roughness. In summary, this study shows that modifying surface roughness in the micrometer range on polyurethane has no impact on the pro-inflammatory immune response. Therefore, we propose that such modifications do not affect the immunocompatibility of polyurethane, thereby supporting the notion of polyurethane as a biocompatible material.

A membrane-bound FRET-based caspase sensor for detection of apoptosis using fluorescence lifetime and total internal reflection microscopy.

A caspase sensor based on Förster resonance energy transfer between fluorescent proteins is reported. Enhanced cyan fluorescent protein anchored to the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane of living cells is optically excited by an evanescent electromagnetic field and transfers its excitation energy via a spacer (DEVD) to an enhanced yellow fluorescent protein. Upon apoptosis, DEVD is cleaved and energy transfer is disrupted, as proven by pronounced changes in fluorescence spectra and decay times. Fluorescence spectroscopy and lifetime imaging (FLIM) is combined with total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM) for selective detection of this membrane-bound caspase sensor. Fluorophores of the cytoplasm are thus excluded, and the signal-to-background ratio is increased considerably. In comparison with conventional or laser scanning microscopy, this permits long-term observation of apoptosis in live cell cultures using very low absorption and avoiding light-induced damages of the samples.

Forster resonance energy transfer-based total internal reflection fluorescence reader for apoptosis.

A fluorescence reader for the detection of Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) on surfaces of living cells is described. The method is based on multiple total internal reflections (TIR) of an incident laser beam within a glass slide, such that individual samples on top of the glass slide are illuminated simultaneously by an evanescent electromagnetic field. Enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (ECFP) anchored to the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane is optically excited and transfers its excitation energy via the peptide linker Asp-Glu-Val-Asp (DEVD) to an enhanced yellow fluorescent protein. Upon apoptosis, DEVD is cleaved, and energy transfer is disrupted, as proven by an increase of fluorescence intensity as well as of fluorescence lifetime of the donor ECFP. Due to selective excitation of membrane-associated fluorophores, intracellular fluorescence and background luminescence from the surrounding medium are eliminated. Therefore, this test system appears to be a sensitive device for the detection of apoptosis and more generally for drug screening or in vitro diagnosis on a nanometer scale.

Cell adhesion profiling using extracellular matrix protein microarrays.

We have developed a microarray-based system for cell adhesion profiling of large panels of cell-adhesive proteins to increase the throughput of in vitro cell adhesion assays, which are currently primarily performed in multiwell plates. Miniaturizing cell adhesion assays to an array format required the development of protocols for the reproducible microspotting of extracellular matrix (ECM) protein solutions and for the handling of cell suspensions during the assay. We generated ECM protein microarrays with high reproducibility in microspot protein content using nitrocellulose-coated glass microslides, combined with piezoelectric microspotting of protein solutions. Protocols were developed that allowed us to use 5000 cells or fewer on an array of 4 x 4 mm consisting of 64 microspots. Using this microarray system, we identified differences of adhesive properties of three cell lines to 14 different ECM proteins. Furthermore, the sensitivity and accuracy of the assays were increased using microarrays with ranges of ECM protein amounts. This microarray system will be particularly useful for extensive comparative cell adhesion profiling studies when only low amounts of adhesive substrate and cells, such as stem cells or cells from biopsies, are available.

Functional characterization and comparison of the outer blood-retina barrier and the blood-brain barrier.

PURPOSE: To determine efflux systems of the outer blood-retina barrier (oBRB) and compare the oBRB with the blood-brain barrier (BBB). METHODS: Porcine oBRB structure and transport characteristics of freshly dissected intact tissue sheets were investigated with scanning electron microscopy, immunocytochemistry, vital dye labeling, and pharmacological agents, using HPLC/mass spectrometry. To compare drug permeation across the oBRB and the BBB, three different systems were used: (1) oBRB tissue sheets in a two-chamber device in vitro; (2) an in vitro BBB model composed of purified astrocytes and brain capillary endothelial cells on transfilter membranes; and (3) an in vivo model based on the brain-plasma ratio of drugs in mice. RESULTS: Efflux pumps (multidrug resistance protein [P-gp] and multidrug resistance-associated protein [MRP]) were demonstrated by antibody staining. Side-specific application of three P-gp and MRP substrates and selective transport inhibition suggested that both membrane proteins were preferentially located on the choroidal side of the oBRB. Therefore, the efflux was directed toward the blood, as in the BBB. To relate the transport characteristics of the oBRB to the BBB, up to nine different test compounds were used. The ranking of the permeability coefficients (P(e)) and the brain-plasma ratios of test compounds indicated that the oBRB has barrier and carrier features similar to those of the BBB in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the fact that epithelial oBRB and endothelial BBB have developed as separate entities with many site-specific functions, their transport and permeation characteristics display surprising similarities, that include the polarized expression of the two major efflux pumps P-gp and MRP.

Metallic oxide nanoparticles stimulate blood coagulation independent of their surface charge.

Positively charged metallic oxides prevent blood coagulation whereas negatively charged metallic oxides are thrombogenic. This study was performed to examine whether this effect extends to metallic oxide nanoparticles. Oscillation shear rheometry was used to study the effect of zinc oxide and silicon dioxide nanoparticles on thrombus formation in human whole blood. Our data show that oscillation shear rheometry is a sensitive and robust technique to analyze thrombogenicity induced by nanoparticles. Blood without previous contact with nanoparticles had a clotting time (CT) of 16.7 ± 1.0 min reaching a maximal clot strength (CS) of 16 ± 14 Pa (G') after 30 min. ZnO nanoparticles (diameter 70 nm, +37 mV zeta-potential) at a concentration of 1 mg/mL prolonged CT to 20.8 ± 3.6 min and provoked a weak clot (CS 1.5 ± 1.0 Pa). However, at a lower concentration of 100 µg/mL the ZnO particles dramatically reduced CT to 6.0 ± 0.5 min and increased CS to 171 ± 63 Pa. This procoagulant effect decreased at lower concentrations reaching the detection limit at 10 ng/mL. SiO2 nanoparticles (diameter 232 nm, -28 mV zeta-potential) at high concentrations (1 mg/mL) reduced CT (2.1 ± 0.2 min) and stimulated CS (249 ± 59 Pa). Similar to ZnO particles, this procoagulant effect reached a detection limit at 10 ng/mL. Nanoparticles in high concentrations reproduce the surface charge effects on blood coagulation previously observed with large particles or solid metal oxides. However, nanoparticles with different surface charges equally well stimulate coagulation at lower concentrations. This stimulation may be an effect which is not directly related to the surface charge.