Rapid Quantification of Live Cell Receptors Using Bioluminescence in a Flow-Based Microfluidic Device

Abstract

The number of receptors expressed by cells plays an important role in controlling cell signaling events, thus determining its behaviour, state and fate. Current methods of quantifying receptors on cells are either laborious or do not maintain the cells in their native form. Here, a method integrating highly sensitive bioluminescence, high precision microfluidics and small footprint of lensfree optics is developed to quantify cell surface receptors. This method is safe to use, less laborious, and faster than the conventional radiolabelling and near field scanning methods. It is also more sensitive than fluorescence based assays and is ideal for high throughput screening. In quantifying β(1) adrenergic receptors expressed on the surface of H9c2 cardiomyocytes, this method yields receptor numbers from 3.12 × 10(5) to 9.36 × 10(5) receptors/cell which are comparable with current methods. This can serve as a very good platform for rapid quantification of receptor numbers in ligand/drug binding and receptor characterization studies, which is an important part of pharmaceutical and biological research.

Chemiluminescence and Bioluminescence as an Excitation Source in the Photodynamic Therapy of Cancer: A Critical Review

“…These rely on various intrinsic and advantageous characteristics: specificity, sensitivity, speed of reaction, high quantum yields and possibility for color modulation. Therefore, BL and CL systems have gained numerous biomedical, pharmaceutical and bioanalytical applications . More specifically, they are used for the analytical determination of various metabolites of interest, microbe detection, biosensing, bioimaging and as reporter gene systems.…”

“…Therefore, BL and CL systems have gained numerous biomedical, pharmaceuticala nd bioanalytical applications. [26][27][28][29][30] More specifically, they are used for the analytical determination of various metaboliteso fi nterest, microbe detection, biosensing, bioimaging and as reporter gene systems.…”

“Pop-slide” patterning: rapid fabrication of microstructured PDMS gasket slides for biological applications

“…For example, patterning a series of microwells on the surface of a glass slide facilitates high-content screening of biological analytes while simultaneously performing cell-based assays. Standard microscope glass slides functionalized with PDMS features can be patterned with proteins to aid in the specific adhesion of cells 25 or beads (Fig. 4A).…”

Fluorescence Enhancement on Large Area Self‐Assembled Plasmonic‐3D Photonic Crystals

“…Fluorescence‐based techniques have been extensively employed in the areas of light‐emitting diodes (LEDs), single‐molecule studies, bioimaging, and sensor technology . Consequently, great efforts have been made for the enhancement of the fluorescence intensity by three major techniques: metallic plasmonics, dielectric photonic crystals, and their hybrid nanostructures .…”