This work was supported by an NSF/ARRA award (IOS 0920357) and an award from the NIH (5R21MH098463).

1. Cell Preparation (Day -2 to 0)
<ol>
	<li>Split HEK293 cells 1:5 using 0.05% Trypsin-EDTA solution and incubate in Growth Media at 37 &#176;C with 5% CO2 until 60 - 80% confluent (2 - 3 days). For each condition, culture cells in 2 x 100 mm dishes.</li>
</ol>
2. Cell Transfection (Day 1)
<ol>
	<li>Transfect HEK293 cells with plasmid encoding Fc-fusion using a transfection reagent such as Lipofectamine. Alternative methods that result in comparable transfection efficiencies may also be used.</li>
	<li>Return transfected cells to incubator for 24 hr.</li>
</ol>
3. Cell Propagation (Day 2)
<ol>
	<li>Preheat Growth Media without Fetal Bovine Serum (-FBS) to 37 &#176;C.</li>
	<li>Rinse dishes 2x with 10 ml Growth Media -FBS, and return the dishes to the 37 &#176;C incubator for 1 hr.</li>
	<li>Rinse the cultures dishes one more time with 10 ml Growth Media -FBS, for a total of 3 washes.</li>
	<li>Incubate the transfected HEK293 cells at 37 &#176;C for another 48 hr without FBS before collecting media.</li>
</ol>
4. Bead Aggregation (Day 4)
<ol>
	<li>To collect media from culture dishes, transfer media from each pair of dishes to 50 ml conical tubes and spin at 500 x g for 5 min to pellet cellular debris.</li>
	<li>Filter media from 50 ml conical tube into a centrifugal filter using a 30 ml syringe and 0.45 &#181;m syringe filter.</li>
	<li>Spin centrifugal filters at 4,000 x g and 4 &#176;C until volume of concentrated culture media is approximately 500 &#181;l (approximately 15 min). Repeat until all culture media has been added and concentrated.</li>
	<li>Add 1.5 &#181;l of Protein G magnetic beads to 1 ml of ice cold Binding Buffer in a 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tube for each sample, place on a magnet and remove buffer. Immediately add the concentrated culture media to the Protein G magnetic beads.</li>
	<li>Rotate tubes at 4 &#176;C for 2 hr.</li>
	<li>Place tubes on a magnet and remove media. Quickly wash beads twice with ice cold 1 ml Binding Buffer, and then resuspend beads in 300 &#181;l Binding Buffer.</li>
	<li>Split resuspended beads into 2 tubes, 150 &#181;l into each tube, and then add 1.5 &#181;l of 200 mM CaCl2 or 200 mM EDTA for the &#8220;calcium&#8221; and &#8220;no calcium&#8221; conditions, respectively.</li>
	<li>Transfer 100 &#181;l from each condition to a depression well slide and collect micrographs using a transmitted light microscope (Figure 2). Collect images from 5 fields of view for each experiment at each desired time point.</li>
</ol>
5. Data Analysis
<ol>
	<li>Using ImageJ, or comparable image analysis software, open one of the five image datasets using the Import/Image Sequence&#8230; from the File pulldown menu. These will be opened as an image stack.</li>
	<li>In the Image/Properties&#8230; dialog box, change the image units to pixels and set Pixel Width and Pixel Height to 1.0.</li>
	<li>Convert the images to binary using the Adjust/Threshold&#8230; command in the Image pulldown menu. Set the threshold to include pixels that contribute to beads or bead aggregates, but that exclude background and small particles. Apply to all images in the stack.</li>
	<li>In the Set Measurements dialog box, check the Area and Stack Position boxes.</li>
	<li>Run Analyze Particles&#8230; in the Analyze pulldown menu. This will generate a list of identified particles, including their size (area) and the image in which they were identified.</li>
	<li>Repeat this process for which experiment and experimental condition.</li>
</ol>

<ol>
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Commun. 1 (2), 177-190 (1993).</li><li>Hatta, K., Nose, A., Nagafuchi, A., Takeichi, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cloning+and+expression+of+cDNA+encoding+a+neural+calcium-dependent+cell+adhesion+molecule:+its+identity+in+the+cadherin+gene+family.">Cloning and expression of cDNA encoding a neural calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecule: its identity in the cadherin gene family.</a> J. Cell Biol. 106 (3), 873-881 (1988).</li><li>Hirano, S., Nose, A., Hatta, K., Kawakami, A., Takeichi, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Calcium-dependent+cell-cell+adhesion+molecules+(cadherins):+subclass+specificities+and+possible+involvement+of+actin+bundles.">Calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecules (cadherins): subclass specificities and possible involvement of actin bundles.</a> J. Cell Biol. 105 (6 Pt 1), 2501-2510 (1987).</li><li>Nose, A., Nagafuchi, A., Takeichi, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Expressed+recombinant+cadherins+mediate+cell+sorting+in+model+systems.">Expressed recombinant cadherins mediate cell sorting in model systems.</a> Cell. 54 (7), 993-1001 (1988).</li><li>Nose, A., Takeichi, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+novel+cadherin+cell+adhesion+molecule:+its+expression+patterns+associated+with+implantation+and+organogenesis+of+mouse+embryos.">A novel cadherin cell adhesion molecule: its expression patterns associated with implantation and organogenesis of mouse embryos.</a> J. Cell Biol. 103 (6 Pt 2), 2649-2658 (1986).</li><li>Schreiner, D., Weiner, J. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Combinatorial+homophilic+interaction+between+gamma-protocadherin+multimers+greatly+expands+the+molecular+diversity+of+cell+adhesion.">Combinatorial homophilic interaction between gamma-protocadherin multimers greatly expands the molecular diversity of cell adhesion.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 107 (33), 14893-14898 (2010).</li><li>Takeichi, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Functional+correlation+between+cell+adhesive+properties+and+some+cell+surface+proteins.">Functional correlation between cell adhesive properties and some cell surface proteins.</a> J. 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J. 80, 1758-1768 (2001).</li><li>Sivasankar, S., Zhang, Y., Nelson, W. J., Chu, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characterizing+the+initial+encounter+complex+in+cadherin+adhesion.">Characterizing the initial encounter complex in cadherin adhesion.</a> Structure. 17 (8), 1075-1081 (2009).</li><li>Zhang, Y., Sivasankar, S., Nelson, W. J., Chu, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Resolving+cadherin+interactions+and+binding+cooperativity+at+the+single-molecule+level.">Resolving cadherin interactions and binding cooperativity at the single-molecule level.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. 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The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests.

Cell adhesion is an essential feature of multicellular life and is mediated by a broad array of cell surface proteins. Of these, the detailed adhesive properties are understood for only a relatively small proportion. Here, we have described a simple, rapid protocol for investigating the homophilic adhesive capacity of secreted ectodomains fused to a convenient epitope tag. This approach has a number of important advantages. First, stable cell lines are not required14,20, as sufficient quantities of protein can be generated by transient transfection of 100 mm dishes. This allows the screening of larger numbers of constructs &#8211; e.g., point or deletion mutants &#8211; without the effort and expense of generating and maintaining large numbers of cell lines. Second, these bead assays are direct tests of the biochemical properties of putative adhesion molecules in a reduced system. Therefore, adhesion can be directly attributed to the protein under investigation, rather than potential indirect effects. Third, to investigate the effects of possible co-factors, cells can be co-transfected with secreted forms of the putative adhesion molecule and its putative co-factor, each with a distinct epitope tag. In addition, this approach is flexible, as it can be adapted for use with a variety of appropriate epitope tags. For example, uniformly-sized magnetic beads are available that are conjugated to Protein A or G (Fc tag), Streptavidin (Strep II tag), glutathione (GST tag), or TALON or Ni:NTA (6x His tag). Finally, the availability of fluorescent beads allows the same protocol to be adapted for simple sorting assays to investigate homophilic specificity. In this scenario, red and green fluorescent beads, each coated with a distinct CAM, are mixed and the degree of intermixing or segregation is assessed.
Despite these advantages, there are also caveats. First, protein fragments on beads in solution do not recapitulate the complexity of the in vivo situation. Individual cells express specific complements of cell surface proteins and their intracellular effectors. Each of these may have either direct or indirect effects on adhesion, and many of these effects will not be reflected in bead assays. For example, a molecule may mediate strong, heterophilic adhesion (it is a CAM), but would not induce bead aggregation in these assays. Second, bead assays are only semi-quantitative and do not provide reliable, quantitative information on the relative strength of adhesive interactions. Finally, all of the molecules that we have investigated are type I, single-pass membrane proteins in which the adhesive domain is present on a single, contiguous polypeptide. It is likely that many CAMs could be multi-pass transmembrane proteins that have an adhesive interface built from multiple ectodomain regions. This assay would not be easily adaptable to such molecules.
For bead assays to be reliable, the conditions need to be reproducible. There are two potential sources of variability in these assays. The first is variability in protein levels. If there is variability in expression levels, due to variation in transfection efficiency or a poorly-expressed protein, the beads may not be saturated and the results may be unreliable. Prior bead aggregation implementations use a defined amount of purified ectodomain-fusion protein. Typically, this fusion protein is purified in large batches from stable cell lines and can be used in multiple experiments. As the quantity of beads used in each experiment and the amount of protein required is very small, a comparable reproducibility can be achieved with transient transfection. The magnetic beads that we use have a binding capacity of ~250 ng/L of resuspended beads. A typical transfection of 2 x 100 mm dishes results in a vast excess of protein, which can be verified with a secondary binding step, using the supernatant after the initial binding of the fusion protein to the beads. The second potential source of variability is the quantity of beads used. The magnetic beads that we use are supplied as a 30 mg/ml slurry which settles quickly. For reproducibility, the beads must be resuspended completely and the relevant volume extracted quickly, before the beads begin to settle. One alternative is to pre-dilute a defined amount of beads in a larger volume. These pre-diluted beads can be added in a larger volume (15 L rather than 1.5 L) to avoid pipetting errors. If proper care isn&#39;t taken, there will be experiment-to-experiment variability in the quantity of beads used. This could affect the rate of aggregation, leading to differences in aggregate size at a specified time.

Cell-cell adhesion is essential for the development and integrity of multicellular organisms and is mediated by a diverse array of cell surface molecules. Many of these adhesion molecules have been identified and characterized, though many remain to be discovered. Several methods are used to investigate the properties of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), including cell sorting assays, cell aggregation assays1-8 and biophysical methods, such as atomic force microscopy and surface force spectroscopy9-12.
The complexity of even simplified in vitro systems using cell lines makes it difficult to determine the adhesive properties of a putative CAM. Typically, a molecule is considered a CAM if it induces cell aggregation when transfected into a non-adhesive cell line. However, it is clear that this is not direct evidence of adhesive activity. For instance, facilitating the cell surface delivery or stability of a CAM would also result in increased cell aggregation1,13. Moreover, a true CAM may fail to mediate cell aggregation if the cell line lacks other co-factors required for cell surface delivery or stabilization.
To avoid these complicating factors, more direct assays can be employed that are based on the idea that adhesive interactions should be an intrinsic biochemical property of the extracellular domain. While beads were initially used to characterize Ng-CAM2, these assays have been extended in order to investigate cadherin-mediated adhesion12,14,15. Using fusion of the C-cadherin ectodomain-Fc fusions, the Gumbiner lab showed that multiple cadherin repeats contribute to homophilic interactions14. Using comparable bead aggregation assays, E-cadherin and N-cadherin adhesion have also been characterized12,15, as have a number of protocadherins1,15-18 and Dscam isoforms from Drosophila19. Here we describe a relatively simple and rapid assay for characterizing the adhesive activity of secreted, epitope-tagged ectodomains of putative homophilic CAMs (Figure 1). We have used this assay primarily to characterize members of the cadherin superfamily.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="630">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="43">
			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:212px;">Name of Material/ Equipment</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">Catalog Number</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Company</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:212px;">pFc-N1 plasmid</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">To be submitted</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Addgene</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:212px;">HEK293 cells</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">CRL-1573</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">American Type Culture Collection</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:212px;">DMEM</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">10-013-CV</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Mediatech - Corning</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:212px;">Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS)</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">F2442</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Sigma</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:212px;">100X Pen-Strep (10,000 U/ml)</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">15140-122</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Life Technologies</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:212px;">0.05% Trypsin-EDTA</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">25300054</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Life Technologies</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:212px;">Lipofectamine 2000</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">11668030</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Life Technologies</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:212px;">Dynabeads &#8211; Protein G</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">10003D</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Life Technologies</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:212px;">Bovine Serum Albumin</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">A3294</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Sigma</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:212px;">Depression slides</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">71878-06</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Electron Microscopy Sciences</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="43" rowspan="2" style="height:43px;width:212px;">Amicon Ultra-15 Centrifugal Filter Unit with Ultracel-10 membrane</td>
			<td rowspan="2" style="width:203px;">UFC901024</td>
			<td rowspan="2" style="width:216px;">Millipore</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:212px;">0.45mm syringe filter</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">83.1826</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Sarstedt</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:212px;">Dynamag-2 Magnet</td>
			<td>12321D</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Life Technologies</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:43px;width:212px;">Fiji (ImageJ) Image Analysis Software</td>
			<td style="width:203px;"></td>
			<td style="width:216px;">http://fiji.sc/Fiji</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:212px;"></td>
			<td style="width:203px;"></td>
			<td style="width:216px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:212px;"></td>
			<td style="width:203px;"></td>
			<td style="width:216px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:212px;"></td>
			<td style="width:203px;"></td>
			<td style="width:216px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:212px;"></td>
			<td style="width:203px;"></td>
			<td style="width:216px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:212px;">Table of Buffers/Solutions</td>
			<td style="width:203px;"></td>
			<td style="width:216px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:212px;"></td>
			<td style="width:203px;"></td>
			<td style="width:216px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:212px;">Growth Media</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">DMEM + 10% FBS + Pen-Strep</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Filter sterilize and store at 4&#176;C.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:212px;">Growth Media &#8211; FBS</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">DMEM + Pen-Strep</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Filter sterilize and store at 4&#176;C.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="61">
			<td height="61" style="height:61px;width:212px;">Binding Buffer</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">50 mM Tris, pH 7.4, 100 mM NaCl, 10 mM KCl, 0.2% BSA</td>
			<td style="width:216px;">Vortex until dissolved, keep on ice.</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

bead aggregation assays for the characterization of putative cell adhesion molecules

Cell-cell adhesion is fundamental to multicellular life and is mediated by a diverse array of cell surface proteins. However, the adhesive interactions for many of these proteins are poorly understood. Here we present a simple, rapid method for characterizing the adhesive properties of putative homophilic cell adhesion molecules. Cultured HEK293 cells are transfected with DNA plasmid encoding a secreted, epitope-tagged ectodomain of a cell surface protein. Using functionalized beads specific for the epitope tag, the soluble, secreted fusion protein is captured from the culture medium. The coated beads can then be used directly in bead aggregation assays or in fluorescent bead sorting assays to test for homophilic adhesion. If desired, mutagenesis can then be used to elucidate the specific amino acids or domains required for adhesion. This assay requires only small amounts of expressed protein, does not require the production of stable cell lines, and can be accomplished in 4 days.

An example experiment is presented in Figure 2, which shows calcium-dependent bead aggregation by the ectodomain of N-cadherin fused to Fc (NcadEC-Fc). In the absence of calcium, beads exhibit little or no tendency to aggregate and there is no increase in aggregate size with time (Figure 1A,C). In the presence of calcium, beads coated with NcadEC-Fc show robust aggregation, with aggregate size increasing over time (Figure 1B,C). This experiment was repeated three times, with each instance consisting of images from five non-overlapping fields. The particle size in pixel area was determined for each aggregate in the five fields. These data were averaged for each time-point in each experiment. The data from the three experiments were averaged to determine means and standard errors of measurement at each time point (Figure 2C).
<img alt="Figure 1" src="/files/ftp_upload/51762/51762fig1highres.jpg" /> 
Figure 1. Use of secreted, epitope-tagged ectodomains in bead aggregation assays. (A) Schematic showing the organization of a typical, single-pass transmembrane cell adhesion molecule (top), which has a signal sequence (S), an ectodomain, a transmembrane domain (T) and an intracellular domain (ICD). To generate a secreted form of the ectodomain, a segment that lacks the transmembrane and intracellular domains is fused to the Fc region of human IgG (bottom). (B) When transfected into cultured cells, the ectomain-Fc fusion is expressed and secreted into the culture medium, where it can be captured and purified on Protein A or Protein G magnetic beads. Protein A or Protein G are shown as black circles on the beads. (C) After washing, the ectodomain-Fc coated magnetic beads are allowed to aggregate, as a test of homophilic adhesive interactions. <a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/51762/51762fig1highres.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
<img alt="Figure 2" src="/files/ftp_upload/51762/51762fig2highres.jpg" /> 
Figure 2. Bead aggregation assay. (A) The classical cadherins, such as N-cadherin and E-cadherin, mediate calcium-dependent, homophilic adhesion. In the absence of calcium (no added calcium and 2 mM EDTA), cadherins fail to mediate adhesive interactions. Shown here is an image of Protein G magnetic beads coated with the ectodomain of zebrafish N-cadherin fused to Fc (NcadEC-Fc). (B) NcadEC-Fc coated beads were allowed to aggregate for 1 hr in the presence of 2 mM CaCl2. Homophilic adhesion by the N-cadherin ectodomains is apparent from the formation of large bead aggregates. (C) As a semi-quantitative measure of adhesion, the size of aggregates can be measured. One method to accomplish this is to measure the area occupied by distinct aggregates in transmitted light images. The mean size of aggregate area can be plotted as a function of time, as shown here, or the ratio of mean aggregate area in the presence or absence of calcium can be calculated. The aggregation of NcadEC-Fc coated beads in the presence of calcium (closed circles) and in the absence of calcium (open circles) was determined at 15 min intervals over the course of 1 hr. <a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/51762/51762fig2highres.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules at JoVE.com

Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules

Here we present a simple, rapid method for characterizing the intrinsic adhesive properties of putative cell adhesion molecules. The secreted, epitope-tagged ectodomain of a cell adhesion molecule is captured from the culture medium on small, uniform functionalized beads. These beads can then be used immediately in simple bead aggregation assays.

Cell-cell adhesion is fundamental to multicellular life and is mediated by a diverse array of cell surface proteins. However, the adhesive interactions ...

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10.5K Views.  Ohio State University. Here we present a simple, rapid method for characterizing the intrinsic adhesive properties of putative cell adhesion molecules. The secreted, epitope-tagged ectodomain of a cell adhesion molecule is captured from the culture medium on small, uniform functionalized beads. These beads can then be used immediately in simple bead aggregation assays.

Video: Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules

Fabrication of Electrochemical-DNA Biosensors for the Reagentless Detection of Nucleic Acids, Proteins and Small Molecules

As medicine is currently practiced, doctors send specimens to a central laboratory for testing and thus must wait hours or days to 
receive the results. Many patients would be better served by rapid, bedside tests. To this end our laboratory and others have developed a versatile, reagentless 
biosensor platform that supports the quantitative, reagentless, electrochemical detection of nucleic acids (DNA, RNA), proteins (including antibodies) and small 
molecules analytes directly in unprocessed clinical and environmental samples. In this video, we demonstrate the preparation and use of several biosensors in this 
"E-DNA" class. In particular, we fabricate and demonstrate sensors for the detection of a target DNA sequence in a polymerase chain reaction mixture, an HIV-specific antibody and the drug cocaine. The preparation procedure requires only three hours of hands-on effort followed by an overnight incubation, and their use requires only minutes.

"E-DNA" sensors, reagentless, electrochemical biosensors that perform well even when challenged directly in blood and other complex matrices, have been adapted to the detection of a wide range of nucleic acid, protein and small molecule analytes. Here we present a general procedure for the fabrication and use of such sensors.

As medicine is currently practiced, doctors send specimens to a central laboratory for testing and thus must wait hours or days to 
receive the results. ...

Synthesis, Assembly, and Characterization of Monolayer Protected Gold Nanoparticle Films for Protein Monolayer Electrochemistry

Colloidal gold nanoparticles protected with alkanethiolate ligands called monolayer protected gold clusters (MPCs) are synthesized and subsequently incorporated into film assemblies that serve as adsorption platforms for protein monolayer electrochemistry (PME). PME is utilized as the model system for studying electrochemical properties of redox proteins by confining them to an adsorption platform at a modified electrode, which also serves as a redox partner for electron transfer (ET) reactions. Studies have shown that gold nanoparticle film assemblies of this nature provide for a more homogeneous protein adsorption environment and promote ET without distance dependence compared to the more traditional systems modified with alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAM).1-3 In this paper, MPCs functionalized with hexanethiolate ligands are synthesized using a modified Brust reaction4 and characterized with ultraviolet visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and proton (1H) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). MPC films are assembled on SAM modified gold electrode interfaces by using a "dip cycle" method of alternating MPC layers and dithiol linking molecules. Film growth at gold electrode is tracked electrochemically by measuring changes to the double layer charging current of the system. Analogous films assembled on silane modified glass slides allow for optical monitoring of film growth and cross-sectional TEM analysis provides an estimated film thickness. During film assembly, manipulation of the MPC ligand protection as well as the interparticle linkage mechanism allow for networked films, that are readily adaptable, to interface with redox protein having different adsorption mechanism. For example, Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin (AZ) can be adsorbed hydrophobically to dithiol-linked films of hexanethiolate MPCs and cytochrome c (cyt c) can be immobilized electrostatically at a carboxylic acid modified MPC interfacial layer. In this report, we focus on the film protocol for the AZ system exclusively. Investigations involving the adsorption of proteins on MPC modified synthetic platforms could further the understanding of interactions between biomolecules and man-made materials, and consequently aid the development of biosensor schemes, ET modeling systems, and synthetic biocompatible materials.5-8

Alkanethiolate stabilized gold colloids known as monolayer protected clusters (MPCs) are synthesized, characterized, and assembled into thin films as an adsorption interface for protein monolayer electrochemistry of simple redox protein like Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin (AZ) and cytochrome c (cyt c).

Colloidal gold nanoparticles protected with alkanethiolate ligands called monolayer protected gold clusters (MPCs) are synthesized and subsequently ...

Adhesion Frequency Assay for In Situ Kinetics Analysis of Cross-Junctional Molecular Interactions at the Cell-Cell Interface

The micropipette adhesion assay was developed in 1998 to measure two-dimensional (2D) receptor-ligand binding kinetics1. The assay uses a human red blood cell (RBC) as adhesion sensor and presenting cell for one of the interacting molecules. It employs micromanipulation to bring the RBC into contact with another cell that expresses the other interacting molecule with precisely controlled area and time to enable bond formation. The adhesion event is detected as RBC elongation upon pulling the two cells apart. By controlling the density of the ligands immobilized on the RBC surface, the probability of adhesion is kept in mid-range between 0 and 1. The adhesion probability is estimated from the frequency of adhesion events in a sequence of repeated contact cycles between the two cells for a given contact time. Varying the contact time generates a binding curve. Fitting a probabilistic model for receptor-ligand reaction kinetics1 to the binding curve returns the 2D affinity and off-rate.
The assay has been validated using interactions of Fc&gamma; receptors with IgG Fc1-6, selectins with glycoconjugate ligands6-9, integrins with ligands10-13, homotypical cadherin binding14, T cell receptor and coreceptor with peptide-major histocompatibility complexes15-19.
The method has been used to quantify regulations of 2D kinetics by biophysical factors, such as the membrane microtopology5, membrane anchor2, molecular orientation and length6, carrier stiffness9, curvature20, and impingement force20, as well as biochemical factors, such as modulators of the cytoskeleton and membrane microenvironment where the interacting molecules reside and the surface organization of these molecules15,17,19.
The method has also been used to study the concurrent binding of dual receptor-ligand species3,4, and trimolecular interactions19 using a modified model21.
The major advantage of the method is that it allows study of receptors in their native membrane environment. The results could be very different from those obtained using purified receptors17. It also allows study of the receptor-ligand interactions in a sub-second timescale with temporal resolution well beyond the typical biochemical methods.
To illustrate the micropipette adhesion frequency method, we show kinetics measurement of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) functionalized on RBCs binding to integrin &alpha;L&beta;2 on neutrophils with dimeric E-selectin in the solution to activate &alpha;L&beta;2.

Adhesion Frequency Assay for In Situ Kinetics Analysis of Cross-Junctional Molecular Interactions at the Cell-Cell Interface

An adhesion frequency assay for measuring receptor-ligand interaction kinetics when both molecules are anchored on the surfaces of the interacting cells is described. This mechanically-based assay is exemplified using a micropipette-pressurized human red blood cell as adhesion sensor and integrin &alpha;L&beta;2 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 as interacting receptors and ligands.

The micropipette adhesion assay was developed in 1998 to measure two-dimensional (2D) receptor-ligand binding kinetics1. The assay uses a human red blood ...

Using Cell-substrate Impedance and Live Cell Imaging to Measure Real-time Changes in Cellular Adhesion and De-adhesion Induced by Matrix Modification

Cell-matrix adhesion plays a key role in controlling cell morphology and signaling. Stimuli that disrupt cell-matrix adhesion (e.g., myeloperoxidase and other matrix-modifying oxidants/enzymes released during inflammation) are implicated in triggering pathological changes in cellular function, phenotype and viability in a number of diseases. Here, we describe how cell-substrate impedance and live cell imaging approaches can be readily employed to accurately quantify real-time changes in cell adhesion and de-adhesion induced by matrix modification (using endothelial cells and myeloperoxidase as a pathophysiological matrix-modifying stimulus) with high temporal resolution and in a non-invasive manner. The xCELLigence cell-substrate impedance system continuously quantifies the area of cell-matrix adhesion by measuring the electrical impedance at the cell-substrate interface in cells grown on gold microelectrode arrays. Image analysis of time-lapse differential interference contrast movies quantifies changes in the projected area of individual cells over time, representing changes in the area of cell-matrix contact. Both techniques accurately quantify rapid changes to cellular adhesion and de-adhesion processes. Cell-substrate impedance on microelectrode biosensor arrays provides a platform for robust, high-throughput measurements. Live cell imaging analyses provide additional detail regarding the nature and dynamics of the morphological changes quantified by cell-substrate impedance measurements. These complementary approaches provide valuable new insights into how myeloperoxidase-catalyzed oxidative modification of subcellular extracellular matrix components triggers rapid changes in cell adhesion, morphology and signaling in endothelial cells. These approaches are also applicable for studying cellular adhesion dynamics in response to other matrix-modifying stimuli and in related adherent cells (e.g., epithelial cells).

Here, we present a protocol to continuously quantify cell adhesion and de-adhesion processes with high temporal resolution in a non-invasive manner by cell-substrate impedance and live cell imaging analyses. These approaches reveal the dynamics of cell adhesion/de-adhesion processes triggered by matrix modification and their temporal relationship to adhesion-dependent signaling events.

Cell-matrix adhesion plays a key role in controlling cell morphology and signaling. Stimuli that disrupt cell-matrix adhesion (e.g., myeloperoxidase and ...

Controlled Microfluidic Environment for Dynamic Investigation of Red Blood Cell Aggregation

Blood, as a non-Newtonian biofluid, represents the focus of numerous studies in the hemorheology field. Blood constituents include red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets that are suspended in blood plasma. Due to the abundance of the RBCs (40% to 45% of the blood volume), their behavior dictates the rheological behavior of blood especially in the microcirculation. At very low shear rates, RBCs are seen to assemble and form entities called aggregates, which causes the non-Newtonian behavior of blood. It is important to understand the conditions of the aggregates formation to comprehend the blood rheology in microcirculation. The protocol described here details the experimental procedure to determine quantitatively the RBC aggregates in microcirculation under constant shear rate, based on image processing. For this purpose, RBC-suspensions are tested and analyzed in 120 x 60 &#181;m poly-dimethyl-siloxane (PDMS) microchannels. The RBC-suspensions are entrained using a second fluid in order to obtain a linear velocity profile within the blood layer and thus achieve a wide range of constant shear rates. The shear rate is determined using a micro Particle Image Velocimetry (&#181;PIV) system, while RBC aggregates are visualized using a high speed camera. The videos captured of the RBC aggregates are analyzed using image processing techniques in order to determine the aggregate sizes based on the images intensities.

The protocol described details an experimental procedure to quantify Red Blood Cell (RBC) aggregates under a controlled and constant shear rate, based on image processing techniques. The goal of this protocol is to relate RBC aggregate sizes to the corresponding shear rate in a controlled microfluidic environment.

Blood, as a non-Newtonian biofluid, represents the focus of numerous studies in the hemorheology field. Blood constituents include red blood cells, white ...

Wet Chemistry and Peptide Immobilization on Polytetrafluoroethylene for Improved Cell-adhesion

Endowing materials surface with cell-adhesive properties is a common strategy in biomaterial research and tissue engineering. This is particularly interesting for already approved polymers that have a long standing use in medicine because these materials are well characterized and legal issues associated with the introduction of newly synthesized polymers may be avoided. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is one of the most frequently employed materials for the manufacturing of vascular grafts but the polymer lacks cell adhesion promoting features. Endothelialization, i.e., complete coverage of the grafts inner surface with a confluent layer of endothelial cells is regarded key to optimal performance, mainly by reducing thrombogenicity of the artificial interface.
This study investigates the growth of endothelial cells on peptide-modified PTFE and compares these results to those obtained on unmodified substrate. Coupling with the endothelial cell adhesive peptide Arg-Glu-Asp-Val (REDV) is performed via activation of the fluorin-containing polymer using the reagent sodium naphthalenide, followed by subsequent conjugation steps. Cell culture is accomplished using Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) and excellent cellular growth on peptide-immobilized material is demonstrated over a two-week period.

Cell-adhesiveness is key to many approaches in biomaterial research and tissue engineering. A step-by-step technique is presented using wet-chemistry for the surface modification of the important polymer PTFE with peptides.

Endowing materials surface with cell-adhesive properties is a common strategy in biomaterial research and tissue engineering. This is particularly ...

3D Magnetic Stem Cell Aggregation and Bioreactor Maturation for Cartilage Regeneration

Cartilage engineering remains a challenge due to the difficulties in creating an in vitro functional implant similar to the native tissue. An approach recently explored for the development of autologous replacements involves the differentiation of stem cells into chondrocytes. To initiate this chondrogenesis, a degree of compaction of the stem cells is required; hence, we demonstrated the feasibility of magnetically condensing cells, both within thick scaffolds and scaffold-free, using miniaturized magnetic field sources as cell attractors. This magnetic approach was also used to guide aggregate fusion and to build scaffold-free, organized, three-dimensional (3D) tissues several millimeters in size. In addition to having an enhanced size, the tissue formed by magnetic-driven fusion presented a significant increase in the expression of collagen II, and a similar trend was observed for aggrecan expression. As the native cartilage was subjected to forces that influenced its 3D structure, dynamic maturation was also performed. A bioreactor that provides mechanical stimuli was used to culture the magnetically seeded scaffolds over a 21-day period. Bioreactor maturation largely improved chondrogenesis into the cellularized scaffolds; the extracellular matrix obtained under these conditions was rich in collagen II and aggrecan. This work outlines the innovative potential of magnetic condensation of labeled stem cells and dynamic maturation in a bioreactor for improved chondrogenic differentiation, both scaffold-free and within polysaccharide scaffolds.

Chondrogenesis from stem cells requires fine tuning the culture conditions. Here, we present a magnetic approach for condensing cells, an essential step to initiate chondrogenesis. In addition, we show that dynamic maturation in a bioreactor applies mechanical stimulation to the cellular constructs and enhances cartilaginous extracellular matrix production.

Cartilage engineering remains a challenge due to the difficulties in creating an in vitro functional implant similar to the native tissue. An approach ...

Development of Microfluidic Devices to Study the Elongation Capability of Tip-growing Plant Cells in Extremely Small Spaces

In vivo, tip-growing plant cells need to overcome a series of physical barriers; however, researchers lack the methodology to visualize cellular behavior in such restrictive conditions. To address this issue, we have developed growth chambers for tip-growing plant cells that contain a series of narrow, micro-fabricated gaps (~1 &#181;m) in a poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate. This transparent material allows the user to monitor tip elongation processes in individual cells during microgap penetration by time-lapse imaging. Using this experimental platform, we observed morphological changes in pollen tubes as they penetrated the microgap. We captured the dynamic changes in the shape of a fluorescently labeled vegetative nucleus and sperm cells in a pollen tube during this process. Furthermore, we demonstrated the capability of root hairs and moss protonemata to penetrate the 1 &#181;m gap. This in vitro platform can be used to study how individual cells respond to physically constrained spaces and may provide insights into tip-growth mechanisms.

We describe a method to investigate the capability of tip-growing plant cells, including pollen tubes, root hairs, and moss protonemata, to elongate through extremely narrow gaps (~1 &#181;m) in a microfluidic device.

In vivo, tip-growing plant cells need to overcome a series of physical barriers; however, researchers lack the methodology to visualize cellular behavior ...

Detection of Endotoxin in Nano-formulations Using Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate (LAL) Assays

When present in pharmaceutical products, a Gram-negative bacterial cell wall component endotoxin (often also called lipopolysaccharide) can cause inflammation, fever, hypo- or hypertension, and, in extreme cases, can lead to tissue and organ damage that may become fatal. The amounts of endotoxin in pharmaceutical products, therefore, are strictly regulated. Among the methods available for endotoxin detection and quantification, the Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate (LAL) assay is commonly used worldwide. While any pharmaceutical product can interfere with the LAL assay, nano-formulations represent a particular challenge due to their complexity. The purpose of this paper is to provide a practical guide to researchers inexperienced in estimating endotoxins in engineered nanomaterials and nanoparticle-formulated drugs. Herein, practical recommendations for performing three LAL formats including turbidity, chromogenic and gel-clot assays are discussed. These assays can be used to determine endotoxin contamination in nanotechnology-based drug products, vaccines, and adjuvants.

Detection of Endotoxin in Nano-formulations Using Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate LAL Assays

Detection of endotoxins in engineered nanomaterials represents one of the grand challenges in the field of nanomedicine. Here, we present a case study that describes the framework composed of three different LAL formats to estimate potential endotoxin contamination in nanoparticles.

When present in pharmaceutical products, a Gram-negative bacterial cell wall component endotoxin (often also called lipopolysaccharide) can cause ...

A Multilayer Microfluidic Platform for the Conduction of Prolonged Cell-Free Gene Expression

The limitations of cell-based synthetic biology are becoming increasingly apparent as researchers aim to develop larger and more complex synthetic genetic regulatory circuits. The analysis of synthetic genetic regulatory networks in vivo is time consuming and suffers from a lack of environmental control, with exogenous synthetic components interacting with host processes resulting in undesired behavior. To overcome these issues, cell-free characterization of novel circuitry is becoming more prevalent. In vitro transcription and translation (IVTT) mixtures allow the regulation of the experimental environment and can be optimized for each unique system. The protocols presented here detail the fabrication of a multilayer microfluidic device that can be utilized to sustain IVTT reactions for prolonged durations. In contrast to batch reactions, where resources are depleted over time and (by-) products accumulate, the use of microfluidic devices allows the replenishment of resources as well as the removal of reaction products. In this manner, the cellular environment is emulated by maintaining an out-of-equilibrium environment in which the dynamic behavior of gene circuits can be investigated over extended periods of time. To fully exploit the multilayer microfluidic device, hardware and software have been integrated to automate the IVTT reactions. By combining IVTT reactions with the microfluidic platform presented here, it becomes possible to comprehensively analyze complex network behaviors, furthering our understanding of the mechanisms that regulate cellular processes.

The fabrication process of a PDMS-based, multilayer, microfluidic device that allows in vitro transcription and translation (IVTT) reactions to be performed over prolonged periods is described. Furthermore, a comprehensive overview of the hardware and software required to automate and maintain these reactions for prolonged durations is provided.

The limitations of cell-based synthetic biology are becoming increasingly apparent as researchers aim to develop larger and more complex synthetic genetic ...