Sensors and Analytics for Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering

A special issue of Biosensors (ISSN 2079-6374).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2013) | Viewed by 53126

Special Issue Editor

College of Nanoscale Science & Engineering, University at Albany, 257 Fuller Road, Albany, NY 12203, USA
Interests: biosensors; bacteria; biofilms; nanotechnology; microfluidics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cell biology has benefited from recent advances in growth substrates, scaffold materials, three-dimensional culturing techniques, two and three-dimensional patterning methods, and unique culturing conditions. In parallel with these advances, biosensing and bioanalytical technologies are needed for measurement of cellular behavior, analytes, biomarkers, chemical properties, and even mechanical properties. This special issue will focus on novel biosensing and analytical technologies for use in this field. A strong emphasis will be placed on technologies that advance measurement capabilities for small-scale cell growth systems, tissue engineering, 3D culture, as well as those used for unique cellular assays/systems. Sensors and analytics for both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell biology will be considered.

Prof. Dr. Nathaniel C. Cady
Guest Editor

Submission

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. Papers will be published continuously (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are refereed through a peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biosensors is an international peer-reviewed Open Access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 300 CHF (Swiss Francs). English correction and/or formatting fees of 250 CHF (Swiss Francs) will be charged in certain cases for those articles accepted for publication that require extensive additional formatting and/or English corrections.

Keywords

  • cell biology
  • tissue engineering
  • sensor
  • biosensor
  • analytical
  • measurement
  • 3D culture
  • patterning
  • mechanical
  • biochemical
  • biomarker

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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972 KiB  
Article
Microstructured Block Copolymer Surfaces for Control of Microbe Adhesion and Aggregation
by Ryan R. Hansen, Katherine R. Shubert, Jennifer L. Morrell-Falvey, Bradley S. Lokitz, Mitchel J. Doktycz and Scott T. Retterer
Biosensors 2014, 4(1), 63-75; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios4010063 - 14 Mar 2014
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 6445
Abstract
The attachment and arrangement of microbes onto a substrate is influenced by both the biochemical and physical surface properties. In this report, we develop lectin-functionalized substrates containing patterned, three-dimensional polymeric structures of varied shapes and densities and use these to investigate the effects [...] Read more.
The attachment and arrangement of microbes onto a substrate is influenced by both the biochemical and physical surface properties. In this report, we develop lectin-functionalized substrates containing patterned, three-dimensional polymeric structures of varied shapes and densities and use these to investigate the effects of topology and spatial confinement on lectin-mediated microbe immobilization. Films of poly(glycidyl methacrylate)-block-4,4-dimethyl-2-vinylazlactone (PGMA-b-PVDMA) were patterned on silicon surfaces into line arrays or square grid patterns with 5 μm wide features and varied pitch. The patterned films had three-dimensional geometries with 900 nm film thickness. After surface functionalization with wheat germ agglutinin, the size of Pseudomonas fluorescens aggregates immobilized was dependent on the pattern dimensions. Films patterned as parallel lines or square grids with a pitch of 10 μm or less led to the immobilization of individual microbes with minimal formation of aggregates. Both geometries allowed for incremental increases in aggregate size distribution with each increase in pitch. These engineered surfaces combine spatial confinement with affinity-based capture to control the extent of microbe adhesion and aggregation, and can also be used as a platform to investigate intercellular interactions and biofilm formation in microbial populations of controlled sizes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors and Analytics for Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering)
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754 KiB  
Article
Micropatterning of 3D Microenvironments for Living Biosensor Applications
by William F. Hynes, Nate J. Doty, Thomas I. Zarembinski, Michael P. Schwartz, Michael W. Toepke, William L. Murphy, Sarah K. Atzet, Ryan Clark, J. Andres Melendez and Nathaniel C. Cady
Biosensors 2014, 4(1), 28-44; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios4010028 - 27 Feb 2014
Cited by 53 | Viewed by 10310
Abstract
Micro-scale printing and patterning of living cells has multiple applications including tissue engineering, cell signaling assays, and the fabrication of cell-based biosensors. In this work, a molecular printing instrument, the Bioforce Nano eNabler, was modified to enable micron-scale “quill-pen” based printing of mammalian [...] Read more.
Micro-scale printing and patterning of living cells has multiple applications including tissue engineering, cell signaling assays, and the fabrication of cell-based biosensors. In this work, a molecular printing instrument, the Bioforce Nano eNabler, was modified to enable micron-scale “quill-pen” based printing of mammalian cells in a 3D hyaluronan/gelatin based hydrogel. Specifically, photo-initiated “thiol-ene” click chemistry was used to couple the thiol groups of thiolated hyaluronan/thiolated gelatin to the alkene groups of 4-arm polyethylene glycol (PEG)-norbornene molecules. Rapid photopolymerization enabled direct printing and controlled curing of living cells within the hydrogel matrix. The resulting hydrogels were biocompatible with human adipose-derived stem cells, NIH-3T3 cells, and mouse embryonic stem cells. The utility of this printing approach was also explored for cell-based biosensors. Micro-printed cells expressing a redox sensitive variant of the green fluorescent protein (roGFP-R12) showed a measurable fluorescent response to addition of oxidizing and then reducing agents. This work represents a novel approach to micron-scale cell patterning, and its potential for living, cell-based biosensors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors and Analytics for Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering)
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318 KiB  
Article
Microfluidic Platform for the Elastic Characterization of Mouse Submandibular Glands by Atomic Force Microscopy
by Aaron P. Mosier, Sarah B. Peters, Melinda Larsen and Nathaniel C. Cady
Biosensors 2014, 4(1), 18-27; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios4010018 - 27 Feb 2014
Cited by 53 | Viewed by 5774
Abstract
The ability to characterize the microscale mechanical properties of biological materials has the potential for great utility in the field of tissue engineering. The development and morphogenesis of mammalian tissues are known to be guided in part by mechanical stimuli received from the [...] Read more.
The ability to characterize the microscale mechanical properties of biological materials has the potential for great utility in the field of tissue engineering. The development and morphogenesis of mammalian tissues are known to be guided in part by mechanical stimuli received from the local environment, and tissues frequently develop to match the physical characteristics (i.e., elasticity) of their environment. Quantification of these material properties at the microscale may provide valuable information to guide researchers. Presented here is a microfluidic platform for the non-destructive ex vivo microscale mechanical characterization of mammalian tissue samples by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The device was designed to physically hold a tissue sample in a dynamically controllable fluid environment while allowing access by an AFM probe operating in force spectroscopy mode to perform mechanical testing. Results of measurements performed on mouse submandibular gland samples demonstrate the ability of the analysis platform to quantify sample elasticity at the microscale, and observe chemically-induced changes in elasticity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors and Analytics for Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering)
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Review

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919 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances in Bioprinting and Applications for Biosensing
by Andrew D. Dias, David M. Kingsley and David T. Corr
Biosensors 2014, 4(2), 111-136; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios4020111 - 24 Apr 2014
Cited by 64 | Viewed by 13348
Abstract
Future biosensing applications will require high performance, including real-time monitoring of physiological events, incorporation of biosensors into feedback-based devices, detection of toxins, and advanced diagnostics. Such functionality will necessitate biosensors with increased sensitivity, specificity, and throughput, as well as the ability to simultaneously [...] Read more.
Future biosensing applications will require high performance, including real-time monitoring of physiological events, incorporation of biosensors into feedback-based devices, detection of toxins, and advanced diagnostics. Such functionality will necessitate biosensors with increased sensitivity, specificity, and throughput, as well as the ability to simultaneously detect multiple analytes. While these demands have yet to be fully realized, recent advances in biofabrication may allow sensors to achieve the high spatial sensitivity required, and bring us closer to achieving devices with these capabilities. To this end, we review recent advances in biofabrication techniques that may enable cutting-edge biosensors. In particular, we focus on bioprinting techniques (e.g., microcontact printing, inkjet printing, and laser direct-write) that may prove pivotal to biosensor fabrication and scaling. Recent biosensors have employed these fabrication techniques with success, and further development may enable higher performance, including multiplexing multiple analytes or cell types within a single biosensor. We also review recent advances in 3D bioprinting, and explore their potential to create biosensors with live cells encapsulated in 3D microenvironments. Such advances in biofabrication will expand biosensor utility and availability, with impact realized in many interdisciplinary fields, as well as in the clinic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors and Analytics for Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering)
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551 KiB  
Review
Sensing a Sensor: Identifying the Mechanosensory Function of Primary Cilia
by Rahul M. Prasad, Xingjian Jin and Surya M. Nauli
Biosensors 2014, 4(1), 47-62; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios4010047 - 13 Mar 2014
Cited by 124 | Viewed by 9200
Abstract
Over the past decade, primary cilia have emerged as the premier means by which cells sense and transduce mechanical stimuli. Primary cilia are sensory organelles that have been shown to be vitally involved in the mechanosensation of urine in the renal nephron, bile [...] Read more.
Over the past decade, primary cilia have emerged as the premier means by which cells sense and transduce mechanical stimuli. Primary cilia are sensory organelles that have been shown to be vitally involved in the mechanosensation of urine in the renal nephron, bile in the hepatic biliary system, digestive fluid in the pancreatic duct, dentin in dental pulp, lacunocanalicular fluid in bone and cartilage, and blood in vasculature. The prevalence of primary cilia among mammalian cell types is matched by the tremendously varied disease states caused by both structural and functional defects in cilia. In the process of delineating the mechanisms behind these disease states, calcium fluorimetry has been widely utilized as a means of quantifying ciliary function to both fluid flow and pharmacological agents. In this review, we will discuss the approaches used in associating calcium levels to cilia function. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors and Analytics for Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering)
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169 KiB  
Review
Application of a Nitric Oxide Sensor in Biomedicine
by Carlota Saldanha, José Pedro Lopes De Almeida and Ana Santos Silva-Herdade
Biosensors 2014, 4(1), 1-17; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios4010001 - 04 Feb 2014
Cited by 47 | Viewed by 7539
Abstract
In the present study, we describe the biochemical properties and effects of nitric oxide (NO) in intact and dysfunctional arterial and venous endothelium. Application of the NO electrochemical sensor in vivo and in vitro in erythrocytes of healthy subjects and patients with vascular [...] Read more.
In the present study, we describe the biochemical properties and effects of nitric oxide (NO) in intact and dysfunctional arterial and venous endothelium. Application of the NO electrochemical sensor in vivo and in vitro in erythrocytes of healthy subjects and patients with vascular disease are reviewed. The electrochemical NO sensor device applied to human umbilical venous endothelial cells (HUVECs) and the description of others NO types of sensors are also mentioned. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors and Analytics for Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering)
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