Priming nanoparticle-guided diagnostics and therapeutics towards human organs-on-chips microphysiological system

Abstract

Nanotechnology and bioengineering have converged over the past decades, by which the application of multi-functional nanoparticles (NPs) has been emerged in clinical and biomedical fields. The NPs primed to detect disease-specific biomarkers or to deliver biopharmaceutical compounds have beena validated in conventional in vitro culture models including two dimensional (2D) cell cultures or 3D organoid models. However, a lack of experimental models that have strong human physiological relevance has hampered accurate validation of the safety and functionality of NPs. Alternatively, biomimetic human “Organs-on-Chips” microphysiological systems have recapitulated the mechanically dynamic 3D tissue interface of human organ microenvironment, in which the transport, cytotoxicity, biocompatibility, and therapeutic efficacy of NPs and their conjugates may be more accurately validated. Finally, integration of NP-guided diagnostic detection and targeted nanotherapeutics in conjunction with human organs-on-chips can provide a novel avenue to accelerate the NP-based drug development process as well as the rapid detection of cellular secretomes associated with pathophysiological processes.

Magnetic Force-Driven Graphene Patterns to Direct Synaptogenesis of Human Neuronal Cells

“…Recently, neural engineering or brain engineering has emerged in the field of regenerative medicine owing to its potential to precisely mimic human neural network (e.g., brain, spinal cord, neuromuscular junction) in vitro and to develop a new type of tool to treat the patients suffering various neurological diseases/disorders [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. A number of approaches have been reported to be successful, including the generation of multiple types of neurons (e.g., dopaminergic, GABAergic, glutamatergic), guiding axons of neurons, construction of neural circuit, development of neural network-on-a-chip and the formation of brain organoids [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. Among them, one of the promising area to be investigated is the guidance of axonal growth and its corresponding synapse formation, since the synaptic junctions are the key parts of the complex neuronal network system wherein signal transduction between each neuron actually occurs [ 23 , 24 ].…”

Metallic Nanoparticle-Based Optical Cell Chip for Nondestructive Monitoring of Intra/Extracellular Signals

“…Therefore, the development of a revolutionized new model of humans is a critical unmet need. The concept of the organ-on-a-chip has been raised for development of an in vitro cell-based model that is more relevant to the actual human physiology at an organ-level by using cell-chip technology with microfluidics [118][119][120]. Generally, organ-on-a-chip consists of two or more differentiated cells and microfluidic channels with fluidic flow, which mimic the shear stress and supply the nutrients for maintaining long periods.…”

Biological tissue sample preparation for time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF–SIMS) imaging

“…Examples of MSI in a vacuum environment includes matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) MSI [ 6 , 7 ], nanoparticle-assisted laser desorption ionization (LDI) MSI [ 8 ], surface-assisted laser desorption ionization (SALDI) MSI [ 9 ], time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF–SIMS) imaging [ 10 ], and gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) ToF–SIMS imaging [ 11 , 12 ]. Each method utilizes UV-activated organic molecules [ 6 ], organic metal molecules [ 13 ], nanoparticles [ 14 – 16 ], nanowires [ 9 , 17 ], nanostructured surfaces [ 18 – 20 ], etc. to enhance the ionization of biomolecules on the surface of a sample, or a gas-cluster ion beam (GCIB) [ 11 ] as the ionization source.…”