title: A droplet-merging platform for comparative functional analysis of m1 and m2 macrophages in response to e. coli-induced stimuli.
abstract: Microfluidic droplets are used to isolate cell pairs and prevent crosstalk with neighboring cells, while permitting free motility and interaction within the confined space. Dynamic analysis of cellular heterogeneity in droplets has provided insights in various biological processes. Droplet manipulation methods such as fusion and fission make it possible to precisely regulate the localized environment of a cell in a droplet and deliver reagents as required. Droplet fusion strategies achieved by passive mechanisms preserve cell viability and are easier to fabricate and operate. Here, we present a simple and effective method for the co-encapsulation of polarized M1 and M2 macrophages with Escherichia coli (E. coli) by passive merging in an integrated droplet generation, merging, and docking platform. This approach facilitated live cell profiling of effector immune functions in situ and quantitative functional analysis of macrophage heterogeneity. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2017;114: 705-709. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Evangelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hondroulis
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, The Forsyth Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts.|Institute of Zoology, Academy of Sciences of Moldova, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.
authors.forename: Alexandru
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Movila
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Pooja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sabhachandani
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Saheli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Noa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, The Forsyth Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts.|Harvard School of Dental Medicine, The Forsyth Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Toshihisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawai
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Konry
mesh_terms: D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D059010:Single-Cell Analysis / Q000379:methods*
keywords: M1/M2 macrophages; bacteria; droplet merging; microfluidic droplets; single cell analysis