This paper parallels my efforts in creating a microfluidic device that can perform co-culturing of different cell types, allow real time phase and fluorescence imaging, and perform non-invasive TEER measurement using transparent electrodes. This is almost exactly what we aimed for; the only difference is in the type of the membrane. They are using a…
An application of nanothin and highly porous (NTHP) membranes for mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation in a co-culture setting. The highlight of this article is that the NTHP membrane allows direct contact of the MSC to cardial myoblast (H9C2) while still maintaining the separation of the different cell types. This ultimately leads to higher degree…
Introduction Permeable membranes provide a physiologically relevant cell culture substrate for in vitro study of barrier cell types, such as endothelial cells, which assume a polarized morphology with distinct apical and basolateral surfaces. Cell morphology and subsequent monolayer formation and barrier function are largely dependent on initial interactions with the cell culture substrate via focal adhesions….
We are working with the Shestopalov group to silanize the nanoporous silicon nitride (NPN) membrane chip. In an ideal scenario, the silane would then be conjugated to PEG to ward off protein adsorption. In the presented work, we study protein adsorption on both the untreated and the silanized NPN chips using epifluorescence as the imaging modality….
Here are the Vascular Interviews in comma separated value form if you want to download them. Here is what I learned or had reinforced. An arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the preferred method for creating an easily cannulated access point to large volumetric blood flow for hemodialysis. Normally the distal end of an artery in the arm (e.g. brachial or…
I had previously manufactured some freestanding MgF2 nanomembranes (50 nm MgF2, starting from Wafer Template 1174) for my work here in Nottingham. I shipped about 75 chips at the beginning of July in my 3d printed holders, however, they arrived with a noticeable film discoloration (tending to blue/tan, rather than the nice purple color I had…
A change in open-circuit potential, measured across a pnc-Si membrane, in response to a fluctuation in flow rate of electrolyte solution exhibits a promising flow-sensing capability of the membrane. To demonstrate this correlation, the open-circuit potentials were measured under a variety of pressured-driven flow patterns. In Figure 1, a series of flows under various applied…
I am trying to grow endothelial cells under flow and measure electrical resistance of the culture during the flow-based growth. I am using a peristaltic pump to generate the flow. I am using microporous membrane with 3 micron pores with 3 micron spacing, and 20% porosity for this experiment. Microporous membranes can facilitate neutrophil transmigration,…
My last experiment did not go as planned, but the results are very interesting nevertheless, and might provide another interesting application for these tw0-membrane systems that we had not yet considered. The start of the experiment went as planned: painted PDMS on the chip, used additional PDMS to glue the gasket to the PDMS layer,…
I made a size ladder of ALD-ed chips. The chips I began with were ~35 nm average pore size, and I applied 2, 5, 7, 10, and 12 nm of alumina using the ALD in UR nano. This does represent an incomplete data set – the 7 nm and 12 nm alumina chips I first…