Generation of stable advective-diffusive chemokine gradients in a three-dimensional hydrogel
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Author(s)
Bonneuil, Willy V
Watson, Daniel J
Frattolin, Jennifer
Russell, Matthew J
Fasanella Masci, Francesca
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Physiologic chemoattractant gradients are shaped by diffusion, advection, binding to an extracellular matrix, and removal by cells. Previous in vitro tools for studying these gradients and the cellular migratory response have required cells to be constrained to a 2D substrate or embedded in a gel devoid of fluid flow. Cell migration in fluid flow has been quantified in the absence of chemoattractant gradients and shown to be responsive to them, but there is a need for tools to investigate the synergistic, or antagonistic, effects of gradients and flow. We present a microfluidic chip in which we generated precisely controlled gradients of the chemokine CCL19 under advective-diffusive conditions. Using torque-actuated membranes situated between a gel region and the chip outlet, the resistance of fluid channels adjacent to the gel region could be modified, creating a controllable pressure difference across the gel at a resolution inferior to 10 Pa. Constant supply and removal of chemokine on either side of the chip facilitated the formation of stable gradients at Péclet numbers between −10 and +10 in a collagen type I hydrogel. The resulting interstitial flow was steady within 0.05 μm s−1 for at least 8 h and varied by less than 0.05 μm s−1 along the gel region. This method advances the physiologic relevance of the study of the formation and maintenance of molecular gradients and cell migration, which will improve the understanding of in vivo observations.
Date Issued
2022-02-01
Date Acceptance
2022-01-29
Citation
AIP Advances, 2022, 12 (2)
ISSN
2158-3226
Publisher
American Institute of Physics
Journal / Book Title
AIP Advances
Volume
12
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© 2022 Author(s). All article content, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
License URL
Sponsor
Wellcome Trust
British Heart Foundation
Grant Number
206284/Z/17/Z
FS/17/41/32976
Subjects
0205 Optical Physics
0206 Quantum Physics
0906 Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 025121
Date Publish Online
2022-02-16