Rapid generation of hybrid biochemical/mechanical cues in heterogeneous droplets for high-throughput screening of cellular responses

Lab Chip. 2021 Jul 13;21(14):2691-2701. doi: 10.1039/d1lc00209k.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cues*
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Stem Cells
  • Tissue Engineering