Live single cell imaging assays in glass microwells produced by laser-induced deep etching
Citation
Sandström, N., Brandt, L., Sandoz, P. A., Zambarda, C., Guldevall, K., Schulz-Ruhtenberg, M., Rösener, B., Krüger, R. A., & Önfelt, B. (2022). Live single cell imaging assays in glass microwells produced by laser-induced deep etching. Lab on a Chip, 22, 2107.
Keywords
- Laser-induced deep etching (LIDE)
- Glass Microwells
- Live Single Cell Imaging
- High-Aspect Ratio
- Microwell Designs
Brief
Laser-induced deep etching (LIDE) is a novel technique to fabricate various glass microwell designs (U-wells, dimpled U-wells, and F-wells) for a range of live-cell imaging applications, allowing for high-resolution imaging and the study of cell behavior, interactions, and responses in a controlled microenvironment.
Summary
This 2022 article in the journal Lab on a Chip, authored by Niklas Sandström, Ludwig Brandt, Patrick A. Sandoz, Chiara Zambarda, Karolin Guldevall, Malte Schulz-Ruhtenberg, Bernd Rösener, Robin A. Krüger, and Björn Önfelt, focuses on a novel method for creating glass microwell arrays for use in live-cell imaging assays. The authors introduce laser-induced deep etching (LIDE) as a technique for producing glass microwells with several advantages over existing methods.
LIDE allows for the creation of microwells with diverse features, including deep, high-aspect ratio wells with rounded, dimpled, or flat bottom profiles, in both single- and double-layer glass chips. This technique offers superior control over microwell design and enables researchers to tailor the well characteristics to specific cell types and experimental needs. The sources highlight several advantages of LIDE:
- High quality: LIDE minimizes defects like micro-cracks that are common with other glass microfabrication methods.
- Versatility: LIDE accommodates various glass types and can create both small and large structures.
- High throughput: The combination of laser pulses and batch etching enables faster production compared to other techniques.
- Cost-effectiveness: LIDE is a digital technique, eliminating the need for physical masks, which reduces costs for prototyping and large-scale manufacturing.
The researchers tested three types of LIDE-generated microwells: U-wells, dimpled U-wells, and F-wells. All three designs successfully supported the growth and proliferation of both suspension and adherent cell lines over multiple days. The excellent optical quality of the glass chips enabled high-resolution imaging using various microscopy techniques.
The sources detail the applications of each microwell design:
- U-wells: These wells are ideal for studies requiring tight cell confinement, promoting cell clustering, and interactions.
- F-wells: F-wells, with their flat bottoms, are particularly well-suited for high-resolution imaging of subcellular structures due to their superior optical properties.
- Dimpled U-wells: These wells, featuring a 3D microstructured surface, provide ample space for cell migration and enable the study of cell behavior in a more in vivo-like environment. The dimples can also guide cell seeding into predetermined patterns.
The authors conclude that LIDE-fabricated glass microwell arrays represent a significant advancement for live-cell imaging assays. They offer enhanced control over well design, excellent optical qualities, and the capability to study a broad range of cellular processes at single-cell resolution. The authors suggest these chips hold potential for applications in diverse fields, from drug discovery and cell line development to diagnostics and personalized medicine.
Origin: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2022/lc/d2lc00090c