An integrated method for cell isolation and migration on a chip

Sci Rep. 2017 Aug 21;7(1):8963. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-08661-z.

Abstract

Tumour cell migration has an important impact on tumour metastasis. Magnetic manipulation is an ascendant method for guiding and patterning cells. Here, a unique miniaturized microfluidic chip integrating cell isolation and migration assay was designed to isolate and investigate cell migration. The chip was fabricated and composed of a magnet adapter, a polytetrafluoroethylene(PDMS) microfluidic chip and six magnetic rings. This device was used to isolate MCF-7 cells from MDA-MB-231-RFP cells and evaluate the effects of TGF-β on MCF-7 cells. First, the two cell types were mixed and incubated with magnetic beads modified with an anti-EpCAM antibody. Then, they were slowly introduced into the chip. MCF-7 cells bond to the magnetic beads in a ring-shaped pattern, while MDA-MB-231-RFP cells were washed away by PBS. Cell viability was examined during culturing in the micro-channel. The effects of TGF-β on MCF-7 cells were evaluated by migration distance and protein expression. The integrated method presented here is novel, low-cost and easy for performing cell isolation and migration assay. The method could be beneficial for developing microfluidic device applications for cancer metastasis research and could provide a new method for biological experimentation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Movement*
  • Epithelial Cells / drug effects*
  • Epithelial Cells / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunomagnetic Separation / instrumentation
  • Immunomagnetic Separation / methods*
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Microfluidics / instrumentation
  • Microfluidics / methods*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism*

Substances

  • Transforming Growth Factor beta