Label-free quantification of asymmetric cancer-cell filopodium activities in a multi-gradient chip.
We use novel super-resolution bright-field optical microscopy to observe the filopodium activities of human lung cancer cells in a multi-gradient cell culture chip. Temporal variations of the filopodium numbers are measured without fluorescent labelling. By carefully designing the fluidic field inside the culture chip, we establish stable concentration gradients of the injected reagents. The reagents are injected via a separated central inlet, and the concentration gradients are different at different positions in the chip. The same chip can be used for both control and treated experiments. Using epidermal growth factor as the treatment, we verify that the protrusions of filopodia indicate the direction of concentration gradients experienced by a living cancer cell; while the treatment of bovine serum albumin shows no specific effect on the growth of filopodia. The combination of label-free, high-resolution optical microscopy and a micro cell culture chip establishes a convenient and versatile platform for dynamical cancer-cell analyses.
Hsu
Tsi-Hsuan
TH
Institute of Biophotonics, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, 11221, Taiwan.
Yen
Meng-Hua
MH
Liao
Wei-Yu
WY
Cheng
Ji-Yen
JY
Lee
Chau-Hwang
CH
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011554:Pseudopodia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000494:pharmacology; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*
D006133:Growth Substances; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor