A nanobiosensor for dynamic single cell analysis during microvascular self-organization. Issue 38 (22nd August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, S.; Sun, J.; Zhang, D. D.; Wong, P. K.
• Is Part Of: Nanoscale. Volume 8:Issue 38(2016)
• Page Start: 16894
• Page End: 16901
• Publication Date: 2016-08-22
• Subjects: Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; 620.505
• DOI: 10.1039/c6nr03907c
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2040-3364

Abstract

Abstract : A nanobiosensor for dynamic single cell analysis during microvascular self-organization. Abstract : The formation of microvascular networks plays essential roles in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Nevertheless, the self-organization mechanisms underlying the dynamic morphogenic process are poorly understood due to a paucity of effective tools for mapping the spatiotemporal dynamics of single cell behaviors. By establishing a single cell nanobiosensor along with live cell imaging, we perform dynamic single cell analysis of the morphology, displacement, and gene expression during microvascular self-organization. Dynamic single cell analysis reveals that endothelial cells self-organize into subpopulations with specialized phenotypes to form microvascular networks and identifies the involvement of Notch1-Dll4 signaling in regulating the cell subpopulations. The cell phenotype correlates with the initial Dll4 mRNA expression level and each subpopulation displays a unique dynamic Dll4 mRNA expression profile. Pharmacological perturbations and RNA interference of Notch1-Dll4 signaling modulate the cell subpopulations and modify the morphology of the microvascular network. Taken together, a nanobiosensor enables a dynamic single cell analysis approach underscoring the importance of Notch1-Dll4 signaling in microvascular self-organization.