Human mesenchymal stem cells response to multi-doped silicon-strontium calcium phosphate coatings

The search for apatitic calcium phosphate coatings to improve implants osteointegration is, nowadays, preferentially focused in the obtaining of compositions closer to that of the inorganic phase of bone. Silicon and strontium are both present in trace concentrations in natural bone and have been demonstrated, by separate, to significantly improve osteoblastic response on calcium phosphate bioceramics. This work aims the controlled and simultaneous multidoping of carbonated calcium phosphate coatings with both elements, Si and Sr, by pulsed laser deposition technique and the biological response of human mesenchymal stem cells to them. A complete physicochemical characterization has been also performed to analyze the coatings and significant positive effect was obtained at the osteogenic differentiation of cells, confirming the enormous potential of this multi-doping coating approach.Technical staff of CACTI (University of Vigo) is gratefully acknowledged. This work was partially supported by the UE-POCTEP 0330IBEROMARE1P project, UE-INTERREG 2011-1/164MARMED and Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (Project MAT2010-18281). M Lopez-Alvarez thanks funding support from FP7/REGPOT-2012-2013.1 (no 316265, BIOCAPS)

Microfluidic extraction and digital quantification of circulating cell-free DNA from serum

International audienc

Lit fluidisé magnétique microfluidique pour des applications bioanalytiques

With the use of an external magnetic field and magnetic microbeads, the microfluidic magnetic fluidized bed system enables fluidization phenomena at the microscale. This results in flow-through operations at low driving pressures with intimate liquid/solid contact and a continuous beads recirculation, interesting for efficient biological target preconcentration applications. The physical system has been characterized, showing the importance of chamber angle of aperture and height confinement as well as magnetic field distribution parameters, to obtain fluidization and further enhance mixing and maximize beads density. Further, the potential of the fluidized bed as a platform for analytical bioassays has been successfully explored with a series of biologically relevant applications: (1) the preconcentration of rare Alzheimer’s biomarkers together with their in situ fluorescence labeling for future enhanced detection with hyphenated techniques; (2) the label-free sensitive detection of bacteria in liquid food samples through the specific immunocapture and on-chip culture of these microorganisms and the resulting physical changes induced in the fluidized support; (3) the gene-specific extraction of DNA and its subsequent enzymatic amplification on the surface of the beads, coupled to a microarray detection system for a multiplexed detection of cancer-inducing mutations. These results show that the applications of the magnetic fluidized bed go beyond its initial conception as a dynamical affinity-based concentrator, serving as an efficient platform for molecular biology protocols and even making use of its inherent auto-regulating properties as a detection mechanism.Des phénomènes de fluidisation de billes magnétiques apparaissent à l'échelle micrométrique au sein du système de lit fluidisé microfluidique. On obtient un fonctionnement en flux continu à basse pression de travail avec un étroit contact liquide/solide et une recirculation constante des billes, des caractéristiques avantageuses pour des applications dédiées à la pré-concentration de cibles biologiques. La caractérisation du système physique a montré l'influence de paramètres tels que la géométrie de la chambre ou la distribution du champ magnétique, leur optimisation étant nécessaire pour obtenir des phénomènes de fluidisation à cette échelle et améliorer le mélange et la distribution des billes. De plus, le potentiel du lit fluidisé comme plateforme pour des bio-essais analytiques a été exploré avec succès lors d'applications biologiques: 1) la pré-concentration de bio-markers de la maladie d'Alzheimer et leur marquage in situ pour un future couplage avec des techniques de détection sensibles; 2) la détection de bactéries sans besoin de marquage préalable à travers une immuno-capture suivie d'une culture donnant lieu à des changements physiques du support fluidisé; 3) l'extraction d'ADN contenant un gène cible et son ultérieur amplification enzymatique sur la surface des billes, suivie d'une détection multiplexée des mutations présentes par un système de microarray. Ainsi, le lit fluidisé magnétique rend possible des applications au de-là d'un simple système de pré-concentration, permettant son utilisation comme une plateforme efficace de biologie moléculaire allant jusqu'à l'utilisation des propriétés autorégulatrices inhérentes au système comme mécanisme de détection

Magnetic fluidized bed for solid phase extraction in microfluidic systems

International audienceFluidization, a process in which a granular solid phase behaves like a fluid under the influence of an imposed upward fluid flow, is routinely used in many chemical and biological engineering applications. It brings, to applications involving fluid–solid exchanges, advantages such as high surface to volume ratio, constant mixing, low flow resistance, continuous operation and high heat transfer. We present here the physics of a new miniaturized, microfluidic fluidized bed, in which gravity is replaced by a magnetic field created by an external permanent magnet, and the solid phase is composed of magnetic microbeads with diameters ranging from 1 to 5 μm. These beads can be functionalized with different ligands, catalysts or enzymes, in order to use the fluidized bed as a continuous purification column or bioreactor. It allows flow-through operations at flow rates ranging from 100 nL min −1 up to 5 μL min −1 at low driving pressures (<100 mbar) with intimate liquid/solid contact and a continuous recirculation of beads for enhanced target capture efficiencies. The physics of the system presents significant differences as compared to conventional fluidized beds, which are studied here. The effects of magnetic field profile, flow chamber shape and magnetic bead dipolar interactions on flow regimes are investigated, and the different regimes of operation are described. Qualitative rules to obtain optimal operation are deduced. Finally, an exemplary use as a platform for immunocapture is provided, presenting a limit of detection of 0.2 ng mL −1 for 200 μL volume samples

Modular microfluidic system for on-chip extraction, preconcentration and detection of the cytokine biomarker IL-6 in biofluid

International audienceAbstract The cytokine interleukin 6 (IL-6) is involved in the pathogenesis of different inflammatory diseases, including cancer, and its monitoring could help diagnosis, prognosis of relapse-free survival and recurrence. Here, we report an innovative microfluidic approach that uses the fluidization of magnetic beads to specifically extract, preconcentrate and fluorescently detect IL-6 directly on-chip. We assess how the physical properties of the beads can be tuned to improve assay performance by enhancing mass transport, reduce non-specific binding and multiply the detection signal threefold by transitioning between packed and fluidization states. With the integration of a full ELISA protocol in a single microfluidic chamber, we show a twofold reduction in LOD compared to conventional methods along with a large dynamic range (10 pg/mL to 2 ng/mL). We additionally demonstrate its application to IL-6 detection in undiluted serum samples

Microfluidic magnetic fluidized bed for DNA analysis in continuous flow mode

Magnetic solid phase substrates for biomolecule manipulation have become a valuable tool for simplification and automation of molecular biology protocols. However, the handling of magnetic particles inside microfluidic chips for miniaturized assays is often challenging due to inefficient mixing, aggregation, and the advanced instrumentation required for effective actuation. Here, we describe the use of a microfluidic magnetic fluidized bed approach that enables dynamic, highly efficient and simplified magnetic bead actuation for DNA processing in a continuous flow platform with minimal technical requirements. We evaluate the performance of this approach by testing the efficiency of individual steps of a DNA assay based on padlock probes and rolling circle amplification (RCA). This assay comprises common nucleic acid analysis principles, such as hybridization, ligation, amplification and restriction digestion. We obtained efficiencies of up to 90% for these reactions and high throughput capabilities, with flow rates up to 5 L/min without compromising performance. The obtained efficiency values using the fluidized bed were superior to a commercially available solution for microfluidic manipulation of magnetic beads. Moreover, to demonstrate the potential of this approach for integration into micro-total analysis systems, we optimized the production of a low-cost polymer based micro arrayand tested its analytical performance for integrated single-molecule digital read-out. Finally, we provide the proof-of-concept for a single-chamber microfluidic chip that combines the fluidized bed with the polymer microarray for a highly simplified and integrated magnetic bead-based DNA analyzer, with potential applications in diagnostic systems

Microfluidic magnetic fluidized bed for DNA analysis in continuous flow mode

Magnetic solid phase substrates for biomolecule manipulation have become a valuable tool for simplification and automation of molecular biology protocols. However, the handling of magnetic particles inside microfluidic chips for miniaturized assays is often challenging due to inefficient mixing, aggregation, and the advanced instrumentation required for effective actuation. Here, we describe the use of a microfluidic magnetic fluidized bed approach that enables dynamic, highly efficient and simplified magnetic bead actuation for DNA processing in a continuous flow platform with minimal technical requirements. We evaluate the performance of this approach by testing the efficiency of individual steps of a DNA assay based on padlock probes and rolling circle amplification (RCA). This assay comprises common nucleic acid analysis principles, such as hybridization, ligation, amplification and restriction digestion. We obtained efficiencies of up to 90% for these reactions and high throughput capabilities, with flow rates up to 5 L/min without compromising performance. The obtained efficiency values using the fluidized bed were superior to a commercially available solution for microfluidic manipulation of magnetic beads. Moreover, to demonstrate the potential of this approach for integration into micro-total analysis systems, we optimized the production of a low-cost polymer based micro arrayand tested its analytical performance for integrated single-molecule digital read-out. Finally, we provide the proof-of-concept for a single-chamber microfluidic chip that combines the fluidized bed with the polymer microarray for a highly simplified and integrated magnetic bead-based DNA analyzer, with potential applications in diagnostic systems

Microfluidic magnetic fluidized bed for DNA analysis in continuous flow mode

Magnetic solid phase substrates for biomolecule manipulation have become a valuable tool for simplification and automation of molecular biology protocols. However, the handling of magnetic particles inside microfluidic chips for miniaturized assays is often challenging due to inefficient mixing, aggregation, and the advanced instrumentation required for effective actuation. Here, we describe the use of a microfluidic magnetic fluidized bed approach that enables dynamic, highly efficient and simplified magnetic bead actuation for DNA processing in a continuous flow platform with minimal technical requirements. We evaluate the performance of this approach by testing the efficiency of individual steps of a DNA assay based on padlock probes and rolling circle amplification (RCA). This assay comprises common nucleic acid analysis principles, such as hybridization, ligation, amplification and restriction digestion. We obtained efficiencies of up to 90% for these reactions and high throughput capabilities, with flow rates up to 5 L/min without compromising performance. The obtained efficiency values using the fluidized bed were superior to a commercially available solution for microfluidic manipulation of magnetic beads. Moreover, to demonstrate the potential of this approach for integration into micro-total analysis systems, we optimized the production of a low-cost polymer based micro arrayand tested its analytical performance for integrated single-molecule digital read-out. Finally, we provide the proof-of-concept for a single-chamber microfluidic chip that combines the fluidized bed with the polymer microarray for a highly simplified and integrated magnetic bead-based DNA analyzer, with potential applications in diagnostic systems

Microfluidic magnetic fluidized bed for DNA analysis in continuous flow mode

International audienc

Transient microfluidic compartmentalization using actionable microfilaments for biochemical assays, cell culture and organs-on-chip

International audienceWe report here a simple yet robust transient compartmentalization system for microfluidic platforms. Cylindrical microfilaments made of commercially available fishing lines are embedded in a microfluidic chamber and employed as removable walls, dividing the chamber into several compartments. These partitions allow tight sealing for hours, and can be removed at any time by longitudinal sliding with minimal hydrodynamic perturbation. This allows the easy implementation of various functions, previously impossible or requiring more complex instrumentation. In this study, we demonstrate the applications of our strategy, firstly to trigger chemical diffusion, then to make surface co-coating or cell co-culture on a two-dimensional substrate, and finally to form multiple cell-laden hydrogel compartments for three-dimensional cell co-culture in a microfluidic device. This technology provides easy and low-cost solutions, without the use of pneumatic valves or external equipment, for constructing well-controlled microenvironments for biochemical and cellular assays