Development of Biodiagnostic Devices Based on Differential Adhesion Under Flow

University Of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA

Investigators

Abstract

The objective of this project is to develop and quantify methods that employ differential cell adhesion to isolate cells, with the primary goal being to identify cell subpopulations based on the chemistry of their surface receptor. Using three different surfaces (polyacrylamide gels, alkanethiols, or glass slides), micropatterned arrays of ligands will be made. An arrayer will be used to make micropatterned surfaces. The surfaces will be derivatized with antigens or avidin, which will allow the surface to capture cells bearing antibodies (RBL cells) or Biotin (KG1a cells). The adhesion will be measured by optical videomicroscopy, and the yield and selectivity of the binding, as well as the rate constant of cell adhesion, will be measured as a function of cell surface molecular density, substrate ligand density, recognition kinetics and affinity, shear rate, and micropattern geometry. Both model systems (to assess fundamental relationships) and a system of practical interest (the isolation of a stem cell line) will be explored. These experiments will be modeled using a simulation algorithm that has the potential.