A Microfluidic Technique to Probe Cell Deformability

Summary

We demonstrate a microfluidics-based assay to measure the timescale for cells to transit through a sequence of micron-scale constrictions.

Abstract

Here we detail the design, fabrication, and use of a microfluidic device to evaluate the deformability of a large number of individual cells in an efficient manner. Typically, data for ~10² cells can be acquired within a 1 hr experiment. An automated image analysis program enables efficient post-experiment analysis of image data, enabling processing to be complete within a few hours. Our device geometry is unique in that cells must deform through a series of micron-scale constrictions, thereby enabling the initial deformation and time-dependent relaxation of individual cells to be assayed. The applicability of this method to human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells is demonstrated. Driving cells to deform through micron-scale constrictions using pressure-driven flow, we observe that human promyelocytic (HL-60) cells momentarily occlude the first constriction for a median time of 9.3 msec before passaging more quickly through the subsequent constrictions with a median transit time of 4.0 msec per constriction. By contrast, all-trans retinoic acid-treated (neutrophil-type) HL-60 cells occlude the first constriction for only 4.3 msec before passaging through the subsequent constrictions with a median transit time of 3.3 msec. This method can provide insight into the viscoelastic nature of cells, and ultimately reveal the molecular origins of this behavior.

Introduction

Changes in cell shape are critical in numerous biological contexts. For example, erythrocytes and leukocytes deform through capillaries that are smaller than their own diameter¹. In metastasis, cancer cells must deform through narrow interstitial gaps as well as tortuous vasculature and lymphatic networks to seed at secondary sites². To probe the physical behavior of individual cells, microfluidic devices present an ideal platform that can be customized to study a range of cell behaviors including their ability to migrate through narrow gaps³ and to passively deform through micron-scale constrictions^3-9. Polydimet....

Protocol

1. Microfluidic Device Design

NOTE: The device design has four basic functional regions: entry port, cell filter, constriction array, and exit port (Figure 1). The overall design can be applied to a wide array of cell types, with minor adjustments to dimensions. Provided here are a few basic design recommendations along with device parameters that are effective for a selection of both primary and immortalized cells.

1. Select the width of constriction array channels (Figure 1B) to be approximately 30-50% of the average cell diameter; this constriction-to-cell size ratio results in significant cell ....

Results

To investigate the deformability of different cell types, human myeloid leukemia cells (HL-60), differentiated neutrophil cells, mouse lymphocyte cells, and human ovarian cancer cell lines (OVCAR8, HEYA8) are evaluated using the ‘Cell Deformer’ microfluidic technique. Representative results for the transit time of HL-60 and neutrophil-type HL-60 cells show the timescale for a single cell to transit through a series of constrictions, as shown in Figure 6. Transit time is measured for a population of indiv.......

Discussion

Here we provide a comprehensive experimental procedure for analyzing the deformation of cells transiting through constricted microfluidic channels using pressure-driven flow. A MATLAB script enables automated data processing (Supplemental Material); an updated version of the code is maintained (www.ibp.ucla.edu/research/rowat). More broadly, the techniques presented here can be adapted in many cell-based microfluidic assays, including the effect of cyto.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Pluronic F-127 Block Copolymer Surfactant	Fisher Scientific	8409400	Produced by BASF, also available through Sigma
PDMS base and crosslinker	Essex Brownell	DC-184-1.1	Product commonly named Sylgard 184 Elastomer
Oxygen plasma discharge unit	Enercon	Dyne-A-Mite 3D Treater
Biopsy Punch, Harris Uni-Core (0.75 mm)	Ted Pella, Inc.	15072
Fingertight Ferrule, 1/32"	Upchurch Scientific	UP-F-113
Fingertight III Fitting, 10-32	Upchurch Scientific	UP-F-300X
Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) tubing, outer diameter = 1/32"or 0.79 mm	Valco	TPK.515-25M
Polyethylene (PE-20) tubing, 0.043" or 1.09 mm	Becton Dickinson	427406
Pressure regulator	Airgas or Praxair
Polyurethane tubing, 5/32” OD	McMaster Carr	5648K284
Push-to-connect fittings	McMaster Carr	5111K91
Voltage to Pressure (E/P) Electropneumatic Converter	Omega	IP413-020
16-bit, 250 kS/S, 80 Analog Inputs Multifunction DAQ	National Instruments	NI PCI 6225-779295-01
Analog Connector Block-Screw Terminal	National Instruments	SCB-68-776844-01
LabView System Design Software	National Instruments
MATLAB Software	The MathWorks, Inc.	MATLAB R2012a	Code requires the Image Processing Toolbox
Shielded Cable	National Instruments	SHC68-68