Efficient cell migration is crucial for the functioning of biological processes, e.g., morphogenesis, wound healing, and cancer metastasis. In this study, we monitor the migratory behavior of the 3D fibroblast cluster...Efficient cell migration is crucial for the functioning of biological processes, e.g., morphogenesis, wound healing, and cancer metastasis. In this study, we monitor the migratory behavior of the 3D fibroblast clusters using live cell microscopy,and find that crowded environment affects cell migration, i.e., crowding leads to directional migration at the cluster’s periphery. The number of cell layers being stacked during seeding determines the directional-to-random transition. Intriguingly,the migratory behavior of cell clusters resembles the dispersion dynamics of clouds of passive particles, indicating that the biological process is driven by physical effects(e.g., entropy) rather than cell communication. Our findings highlight the role of intrinsic physical characteristics, such as crowding, in regulating biological behavior, and suggest new therapeutic approaches targeting at cancer metastasis.展开更多
Early diagnosis of diabetes is crucial,as diabetes,particularly type 2,can eventually lead to irreversible changes and complications.Conventional techniques,such as the Fasting Plasma Glucose(FPG)Test and Hemoglobin A...Early diagnosis of diabetes is crucial,as diabetes,particularly type 2,can eventually lead to irreversible changes and complications.Conventional techniques,such as the Fasting Plasma Glucose(FPG)Test and Hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c)Test,measure blood glucose levels,which fluctuate over time and are insensitive to early stages.In this study,we focus on measuring the mechanical properties of red blood cells,as their irreversible changes can indicate early pathological impacts of diabetes.We developed a microfluidic chip with a symmetrical hyperbolic structure.By periodically altering the state of the valve membrane,we generate a reciprocating shear flow field that repeatedly acts on groups of RBCs.We then quantify the morphological parameters of the RBCs,establishing a correlation between the reciprocating shear flow field and the morphological changes of the cells.Using the developed microfluidic chip,we investigated the resistance of blood cells from 20 healthy volunteers to mechanical stimuli.The results indicated a significant correlation between the deformability of red blood cells and age,while no such correlation was found among individuals of the same gender.This study highlights the potential of utilizing the mechanical properties of red blood cells as an early diagnostic tool for diabetes.Furthermore,given the ease of integration of microfluidic chips,they present a promising high-throughput diagnostic solution for large-scale clinical screening.展开更多
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51927804 and 12174306)the Natural Science Basic Research Program of Shaanxi Province of China (Grant No. 2023-JC-JQ-02)。
文摘Efficient cell migration is crucial for the functioning of biological processes, e.g., morphogenesis, wound healing, and cancer metastasis. In this study, we monitor the migratory behavior of the 3D fibroblast clusters using live cell microscopy,and find that crowded environment affects cell migration, i.e., crowding leads to directional migration at the cluster’s periphery. The number of cell layers being stacked during seeding determines the directional-to-random transition. Intriguingly,the migratory behavior of cell clusters resembles the dispersion dynamics of clouds of passive particles, indicating that the biological process is driven by physical effects(e.g., entropy) rather than cell communication. Our findings highlight the role of intrinsic physical characteristics, such as crowding, in regulating biological behavior, and suggest new therapeutic approaches targeting at cancer metastasis.
基金the Key Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)(12432014)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2025YFE0107500)+2 种基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(51927804)Shaanxi Province Natural Science Basic Research Program Projects(2025JC-YBMS-028)Technology Innovation Guidance Program Fund of Shaanxi Province(2019CGHJ-09).
文摘Early diagnosis of diabetes is crucial,as diabetes,particularly type 2,can eventually lead to irreversible changes and complications.Conventional techniques,such as the Fasting Plasma Glucose(FPG)Test and Hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c)Test,measure blood glucose levels,which fluctuate over time and are insensitive to early stages.In this study,we focus on measuring the mechanical properties of red blood cells,as their irreversible changes can indicate early pathological impacts of diabetes.We developed a microfluidic chip with a symmetrical hyperbolic structure.By periodically altering the state of the valve membrane,we generate a reciprocating shear flow field that repeatedly acts on groups of RBCs.We then quantify the morphological parameters of the RBCs,establishing a correlation between the reciprocating shear flow field and the morphological changes of the cells.Using the developed microfluidic chip,we investigated the resistance of blood cells from 20 healthy volunteers to mechanical stimuli.The results indicated a significant correlation between the deformability of red blood cells and age,while no such correlation was found among individuals of the same gender.This study highlights the potential of utilizing the mechanical properties of red blood cells as an early diagnostic tool for diabetes.Furthermore,given the ease of integration of microfluidic chips,they present a promising high-throughput diagnostic solution for large-scale clinical screening.
