Microfluidic Buffer Exchange for Interference-free Micro/Nanoparticle Cell Engineering

Summary

This protocol describes the use of an inertial microfluidics-based buffer exchange strategy to purify micro/nanoparticle engineered cells with efficient depletion of unbound particles.

Abstract

Engineering cells with active-ingredient-loaded micro/nanoparticles (NPs) is becoming an increasingly popular method to enhance native therapeutic properties, enable bio imaging and control cell phenotype. A critical yet inadequately addressed issue is the significant number of particles that remain unbound after cell labeling which cannot be readily removed by conventional centrifugation. This leads to an increase in bio imaging background noise and can impart transformative effects onto neighboring non-target cells. In this protocol, we present an inertial microfluidics-based buffer exchange strategy termed as Dean Flow Fractionation (DFF) to efficiently separate labeled cells from free NPs in a high throughput manner. The developed spiral microdevice facilitates continuous collection (>90% cell recovery) of purified cells (THP-1 and MSCs) suspended in new buffer solution, while achieving >95% depletion of unbound fluorescent dye or dye-loaded NPs (silica or PLGA). This single-step, size-based cell purification strategy enables high cell processing throughput (10⁶ cells/min) and is highly useful for large-volume cell purification of micro/nanoparticle engineered cells to achieve interference-free clinical application.

Introduction

Engineering cells by agent-loaded micro/nanoparticles (NPs) is a simple, genomic integration-free, and versatile method to enhance bioimaging capability and augment/supplement its native therapeutic properties in regenerative medicine.^1-3 Cellular modifications are achieved by labeling the plasma membrane or cytoplasm with an excess concentration of agent-loaded NPs to saturate the binding sites. However, a major drawback of this method is the significant quantities of unbound particles remaining in solution after cell labeling processes, which can potentially confound precise identification of particle-engineered cells or complicate therapeutic outcomes.

Protocol

1. Nanoparticles (NPs) Labeling of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Monocytes

1. Culture mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and antibiotics to ≥80% confluency prior to labeling. Similarly, culture THP-1 cells (ATCC) in Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI) 1640 medium supplemented with 10% FBS to a density of ~10⁶ cells/ml.
2. Load silica NPs (~500 µm) with calcein dye solution (200 µM) using overnight stirring. Fabricate PLGA-calcein AM (CAM) using a protocol described previously.²²
   1. Dissolve 250 µg CAM and 10....

Results

After labeling the cells with bio imaging agent-loaded NPs overnight, the labeled cells (containing free particles) are harvested and purified by DFF spiral microdevice to remove free NPs in a single step process (Figure 1A). The 2-inlet, 2-outlet spiral microchannel is designed by engineering software and microfabricated using SU-8 photoresist. The patterned silicon wafer is then used as a template for PDMS replica molding using soft lithography techniques (Figur.......

Discussion

The DFF cell purification technology described herein enables rapid and continuous separation of labeled cells in a high throughput manner. This separation approach is ideal for large sample volume or high cell concentration sample processing, and is better than conventional membrane-based filtration which is prone to clogging after extended use. Similarly, affinity-based magnetic separation requires additional cell labelling steps which are laborious and expensive. The purified cells are shown to retain their labeled ag.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Cell lines & Media
Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs)	Lonza	PT-2501
Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM)	Lonza	12-614F
Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS)	Gibco	10270-106
THP-1 monocyte cells (THP-1)	ATCC	TIB-202
Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI) 1640 media	Lonza	12-702F
Reagents & Materials
0.01% poly-L-lysine (PLL)	Sigma-Aldrich	P8920
3 ml Syringe	BD	302113	Syringe 3 ml Luer-Lock
60 ml Syringe	BD	309653	Syringe 60 ml Luer-Lock
Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA)	Biowest	P6154-100GR
Calcein, AM (CAM)	Life Technologies	C1430
Calcein	Sigma-Aldrich	C0875
Isopropanol	Fisher Chemical	#P/7507/17	HPLC Grade 2.5 L
Phosphate-Buffered Saline (PBS)	Lonza	17-516Q/12
Plain Microscope Slides	Fisher Scientific	FIS#12-550D	75 x 25 x 1 mm3
Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)	Dow Corning	SYLGARD® 184
Scotch tape	3M	21200702044	18 mm x 25 m
Silica NPs (∼200 μm)	Sigma-Aldrich	748161	Pore size 4 nm
Syringe Tip	JEC Technology	7018302	23 G 0.013 x 0.25
Trypsin-EDTA (0.25%)	Life Technologies	25200-056
Tygon Tubing	Spectra-Teknik	06419-01	0.02 x 0.06" 100
Poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA; 50:50)	Sigma-Aldrich	P2191
Equipment
Biopsy punch	Harris Uni-Core	69036-15	1.50 mm
Dessicator	Scienceware	111/4 IN OD
High-speed Camera	Phantom	V9.1
Inverted phase-contrast microscope	Nikon	Eclipse Ti
Plasma cleaner	Harrick Plasma	PDC-002
Syringe Pump	Chemyx	CX Fusion 200