Nanoscale integration of single cell biologics discovery processes using optofluidic manipulation and monitoring. Issue 9 (24th June 2019) - Jorgolli, Marsela
Abstract: The new and rapid advancement in the complexity of biologics drug discovery has been driven by a deeper understanding of biological systems combined with innovative new therapeutic modalities, paving the way to breakthrough therapies for previously intractable diseases. These exciting times in biomedical innovation require the development of novel technologies to facilitate the sophisticated, multifaceted, high‐paced workflows necessary to support modern large molecule drug discovery. A high‐level aspiration is a true integration of "lab‐on‐a‐chip" methods that vastly miniaturize cellulmical experiments could transform the speed, cost, and success of multiple workstreams in biologics development. Several microscale bioprocess technologies have been established that incrementally address these needs, yet each is inflexibly designed for a very specific process thus limiting an integrated holistic application. A more fully integrated nanoscale approach that incorporates manipulation, culture, analytics, and traceable digital record keeping of thousands of single cells in a relevant nanoenvironment would be a transformative technology capable of keeping pace with today's rapid and complex drug discovery demands. The recent advent of optical manipulation of cells using light‐induced electrokinetics with micro‐ and nanoscale cell culture is poised to revolutionize both fundamental and applied biological research. In this review, we summarize the current state of the art for optical manipulation techniques and discuss emerging biological applications of this technology. In particular, we focus on promising prospects for drug discovery workflows, including antibody discovery, bioassay development, antibody engineering, and cell line development, which are enabled by the automation and industrialization of an integrated optoelectronic single‐cell manipulation and culture platform. Continued development of such platforms will be well positioned to overcome many of the challenges currently associated with fragmented, low‐throughput bioprocess workflows in biopharma and life science research. Abstract : The promise of 'lab‐on‐a‐chip' technology has been slow to mature towards industrial applications, but the promise remains the same: miniaturization of basic cellular‐manipulations should lead to faster and more efficient discovery, requiring less reagent and effort due to enhanced sensitivities. The nanofluidic‐optoelectronic platform technology, discussed by Jorgolli et al., overcomes such limitations through the capability to maintain physiologically‐relevant culture environments of thousands of cells while performing numerous types of sensitive assays all under reproducible computer control, otherwise known as "digital‐cell‐biology".