Patterning of sharp cellular interfaces with a reconfigurable elastic substrate.
Integr Biol (Camb)
; 9(1): 50-57, 2017 01 23.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28001149
ABSTRACT
Micropatterned cocultures are a useful experimental tool for the study of cell-cell interactions. Patterning methods often rely on sequential seeding of different cell types or removal of a barrier separating two populations, but it is difficult to pattern sharp interfaces between pure populations with low cross-contamination when using these approaches. Patterning by the use of reconfigurable substrates can overcome these limitations, but such methods can be costly and challenging to employ in a typical biology laboratory. Here, we describe a low-cost and simple-to-use reconfigurable substrate comprised of a transparent elastic material that is partially cut to form a slit that opens when the device is stretched. The slit seals back up when released, allowing two initially separate, adherent cell populations to be brought together to form a contact interface. Fluorescent imaging of patterned cocultures demonstrates the early establishment of a sharp cellular interface. As a proof of principle, we demonstrate the use of this device to study competition at the interface of two stem cell populations.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Comunicação Celular
/
Técnicas de Cocultura
/
Microambiente Celular
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2017
Tipo de documento:
Article