A microfluidic toolbox for cell fusion
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Chiu, FWY
Bagci, H
Fisher, AG
deMello, AJ
Elvira, KS
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Cellular fusion is a key process in many fields ranging from historical gene mapping studies and monoclonal antibody production, through to cell reprogramming. Traditional methodologies for cell fusion rely on the random pairing of different cell types and generally result in low and variable fusion efficiencies. These approaches become particularly limiting where substantial numbers of bespoke one-to-one fusions are required, for example, for in-depth studies of nuclear reprogramming mechanisms. In recent years, microfluidic technologies have proven valuable in creating platforms where the manipulation of single cells is highly efficient, rapid and controllable. These technologies also allow the integration of different experimental steps and characterisation processes into a single platform. Although the application of microfluidic methodologies to cell fusion studies is promising, current technologies that rely on static trapping are limited both in terms of the overall number of fused cells produced and their experimental accessibility. Here we review some of the most exciting breakthroughs in core microfluidic technologies that will allow the creation of integrated platforms for controlled cell fusion at high throughput. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.
Date Issued
2016-01
Date Acceptance
2015-08-21
Citation
Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, 2016, 91 (1), pp.16-24
ISSN
1097-4660
Publisher
Wiley
Start Page
16
End Page
24
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology
Volume
91
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2015 Society of Chemical Industry. This is the peer reviewed version of the following article which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jctb.4803/. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving."
Sponsor
Commission of the European Communities
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000367951400003&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
294627
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Physical Sciences
Technology
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Engineering, Chemical
Chemistry
Engineering
Droplet microfluidics
Cell fusion
Cell encapsulation
S-cell
High efficiency
Cell sorting
Droplet-based microfluidics
High-throughput
Single-cells
Polyethylene-glycol
Encapsulation
Electrofusion
Mechanisms
Pluripotency
Antibody
Cancer
Biotechnology
MD Multidisciplinary
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2015-08-26