Latest Updates on the Advancement of Polymer-Based Biomicroelectromechanical Systems for Animal Cell Studies
Table 6
Recent BioMEMS platforms for cell differentiation and identification including the type of the platform, the main components, the fabrication strategy, the mechanism of operation, and the specifics of each platform.
BioMEMS platform
Main components
Fabrication strategy
Mechanism of operation
Specifics
Ref.
μIFC
Au and Cr electrodes
Conventional soft lithography technique
A current between the external electrodes was generated by an AC signal. In the absence of particles, the output current was zero. In the presence of the particle, however, the positive output voltage increased. When the particle reached the second electrode, the negative output voltage was recorded.
Differentiation was possible even when the cells had similar sizes.
PDMS-based microfluidic device Micropillars Valve control
Soft lithography and DRIE
A pump-free perfusion system was used for long-term differentiation. A passive pumping system was implemented to control medium perfusion in a constant flow rate.
The differentiation was achieved within 14 days. The device had a derivation efficiency of 92%.
Five photolithographic steps based on photomask-set
Oscillations (23-30 MHz) were introduced to the device and caused the biomolecules to bind to the surface. The attached cells to the surface produced a mass gain.
The device binds only to one type of chemokine and repels others.
Impedance measurements were done at 750 kHz and 10 MHz. Since the cells were of different sizes, the detected values depended on the size of cells. Finally, opacity could be used to differentiate cell lines.
This noninvasive device has an effectiveness of 93.2%. The method requires no functionalization or cell labeling.
The first path in this device was a trap while the second path was a bypass channel. When the trap was empty, a cell would be driven into the trap. Once the trap was occupied by a cell, the flow-through path would block. Therefore, the next cell would be driven into the bypass channel and enter the next available trap.
The device could monitor dynamic changes in electrical properties of individual cells over long periods of time.
The sensor was able to detect single cells due to their magnetic properties. Three electrodes were used and divided the straight microchannels into two consecutive stage microcoulter. When the cells passed through the microcoulter, each cell generated a voltage pulse and by using the magnetic beads, the target cells were identified.
The device identifies and counts cells in situ while measuring the size of each cell individually.
The “off-chip” device had an embedded pair of planar electrodes. The impedance was obtained in the surrounding of the medium. When the CTC was detected, an impedance peak was obtained. When the “on-chip” device detected a CTC in the constriction channel, a peak was deviated from a constant baseline.
Differentiation was achieved with 90% of success. The system has the potential for detecting different types of cancer.
GNRs were added into the cell buffer, and photostimulation was performed. Subsequently, the solution of suspended cells and oil was injected into the chip, and the cells created a single-cell laminar flow. Lastly, the cells were delivered into a petri dish for culture and analysis.
The necrosis of apoptosis can be controlled by the laser focusing.
