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Smart Hydrogel Microfluidics for Single‐Cell Multiplexed Secretomic Analysis with High Sensitivity
Author(s) -
Hsu Myat Noe,
Wei ShihChung,
Guo Song,
Phan DinhTuan,
Zhang Yong,
Chen ChiaHung
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201802918
Subject(s) - microfluidics , sensitivity (control systems) , multiplexing , materials science , nanotechnology , single cell analysis , cell , chemistry , computer science , engineering , telecommunications , electronic engineering , biochemistry
Secreted proteins determine a range of cellular functionalities correlated with human health and disease progression. Because of cell heterogeneity, it is essential to measure low abundant protein secretions from individual cells to determine single‐cell activities. In this study, an integrated platform consisting of smart hydrogel immunosensors for the sensitive detection of single‐cell secretions is developed. A single cell and smart hydrogel microparticles are encapsulated within a droplet. After incubation, target secreted proteins from the cell are captured in the smart hydrogel particle for immunoassay. The temperature‐induced volume phase transition of the hydrogel biosensor allows the concentration of analytes within the gel matrix to increase, enabling high‐sensitivity measurements. Distinct heterogeneity for live cell secretions is determined from 6000 cells within 1 h. This method is tested for low abundant essential secretions, such as interleukin‐6, interleukin‐8, and monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 secretions of both suspended cells (HL60) and adherent cells (MCF7 and MDA‐MB‐231). This platform is highly flexible and can be used to simultaneously measure a wide range of clinically relevant cellular secretions; it thus represents a novel tool for precise biological assays.