Rapid generation of hybrid biochemical/mechanical cues in heterogeneous droplets for high-throughput screening of cellular responses. Issue 14 (24th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhao, Xing; Ou, Gaozhi; Lei, Mengcheng; Zhang, Yang; Li, Lina; Ge, Anle; Wang, Yachao; Li, Yiwei; Liu, Bi-Feng
• Is Part Of: Lab on a chip. Volume 21:Issue 14(2021)
• Page Start: 2691
• Page End: 2701
• Publication Date: 2021-06-24
• Subjects: Miniature electronic equipment -- Periodicals; Combinatorial chemistry -- Periodicals; Biotechnology -- Periodicals; 543.0813
• DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00209k
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1473-0197

Abstract

Abstract : Heterogeneous droplet array composites of hybrid biochemical/mechanical cues for high-throughput screening of cellular behaviors to various combinations of morphogens and matrix stiffness. Abstract : Cells in their native microenvironment are subjected to varying combinations of biochemical cues and mechanical cues in a wide range. Although many signaling pathways have been found to be responsive for extracellular cues, little is known about how biochemical cues crosstalk with mechanical cues in a complex microenvironment. Here, we introduced heterogeneous droplets on a microchip, which were rapidly assembled by combining wettability-patterned microchip and programmed droplet manipulations, for a high-throughput cell screening of the varying combinations of biochemical cues and mechanical cues. This platform constructed a heterogeneous droplet/microgel array with orthogonal gradual chemicals and materials, which was further applied to analyze the cellular Wnt/β-catenin signaling in response to varying combinations of Wnt ligands and substrate stiffness. Thus, this device provides a powerful multiplexed bioassay platform for drug development, tissue engineering, and stem cell screening.