New imaging tool visualizes cell functions in a microphysiological
system

Date:
August 20, 2021
Source:
Tohoku University
Summary:
A microphysiological system (MPS) is a 3D organ construct
using human cells. They show us how organs respond to drugs and
environmental stimuli. Now, researchers have developed a new
imaging tool for MPS using scanning probe microscopy.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A microphysiological system (MPS), also known as an organ-on-a-chip,
is a 3D organ construct using human cells that help reveal how organs
respond to drugs and environmental stimuli.


==========================================================================
Now, Tohoku University researchers have developed a new analytical method
that visualizes cell functions in MPS using scanning probe microscopy
(SPM).

SPM differs from optical microscopy since it employs fine probe scanning
over a sample surface and then exploits the local interactions between
the probe and the surface. The biggest advantage of SPM over conventional microscopy is that physical and chemical conditions can be acquired
rapidly and as a high- resolution image.

In this study, SPMs evaluated a vascular model (vasculature-on-a-chip) by scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) and scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM). Using these SPMs, the researchers quantified the permeability and topographical information of the vasculature-on-a-chip.

"MPS shows potential to recapitulate the physiology and functions of
their counterparts in the human body. Most research on this topic has
focused on the construction of biomimetic organ models. Today, there
is an increasing interest in developing sensing systems for MPS" said
first author Yuji Nashimoto.

Some have touted electrochemical sensors to monitor MPS. However, most electrochemical sensors cannot acquire the spatial information of cell functions in MPS because they have only one sensor per one analyte. In contrast, SPM provides spatial information about cell functions rapidly.

"Our research group has developed various electrochemical imaging tools,
SPMs and electrochemical arrays," explained corresponding author Hitoshi
Shiku.

"These devices will help usher in next-generation sensors in MPS." ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Tohoku_University. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Yuji Nashimoto, Minori Abe, Ryota Fujii, Noriko Taira, Hiroki Ida,
Yasufumi Takahashi, Kosuke Ino, Javier Ramon‐Azcon, Hitoshi
Shiku.

Topography and Permeability Analyses of
Vasculature‐on‐a‐Chip Using Scanning Probe
Microscopies. Advanced Healthcare Materials, 2021; 2101186 DOI:
10.1002/ adhm.202101186 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210820111050.htm

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