The Microfluidic Trapping of Antibody-Secreting Cells

Abstract

Therapeutic antibodies (Abs) are a rapidly growing and economically promising biotechnological research area. Therapeutic Ab production typically involves screening large numbers of Ab-secreting cells (ASCs) in order to identify those producing Abs targeting a specific antigen (Ag) with the highest affinity; a process often requiring weeks to complete. We are contributing to a multidisciplinary project focused upon the development of an immunobiosensing array ultimately intended to directly monitor the Ag-specific Ab production by thousands of ASCs on a single slide in real-time. Each ASC shall be microfluidically guided and trapped near a surface plasmon (SP) resonant nanohole array sensor so as to detect the binding of secreted Abs to Ag immobilized onto the sensor’s surface. This paper presents the initial progress of our contribution to this project: the development of polymeric microfluidic devices to guide and trap large ASC populations within arrays of single-cell traps. More specifically, this paper presents several different polymer-based microfluidic trapping devices, based upon perfusive flow-through cell traps and microwells which trap settling cells, which have been evaluated using COMSOL® simulations and tested using microsphere- and cell-based flow experiments. Our initial results are promising, and verify the functionality of our microfluidic cell trap designs.

Application of microfluidic technology in antibody screening

“…[54] In addition to droplet-based microfluidics, Romanuik et al developed a hydrodynamic microfluidic system for trapping antibodysecreting cells. [55] Concave traps were inserted into serpentine bends and spirals, wherein 5 to 20 mouse B-cell hybridoma cells/well were effectively trapped in 10 min. Moreover, the cells remained viable for 24 h using Cr-free substrate, which is essential for real-time identification via SPR.…”

Application of Microfluidic Technology in Field of Antibody Preparation

“…In addition to droplet-based microfluidics, Romanuik (Romanuik et al, 2010) developed a hydrodynamic microfluidic to trap antibody-secreting cells. The device was designed concave traps inset into serpentine bends and spirals with 5-20 mouse B cell hybridoma cells/well effectively trapped in 10 minutes.…”

Microfluidics on compliant substrates: recent developments in foldable and bendable devices and system packaging

“…While SU-8 ad PDMS have been widely employed for passive structures in microfluidics such as packaging and microchannels 13,14 , in order to make active materials that have electronic or magnetic functionality, the materials must be doped with particles having specific functionality. We have developed a wide range of active SU-8 and PDMS materials that are realized by introduction of conducting and/or magnetic nanoparticles into the polymer matrix, resulting in "nanocomposite polymers" (NCPs).…”