An All-on-chip Method for Rapid Neutrophil Chemotaxis Analysis Directly from a Drop of Blood

Summary

This article provides the detailed method of performing a rapid neutrophil chemotaxis assay by integrating the on-chip neutrophil isolation from whole blood and the chemotaxis test on a single microfluidic chip.

Abstract

Neutrophil migration and chemotaxis are critical for our body's immune system. Microfluidic devices are increasingly used for investigating neutrophil migration and chemotaxis owing to their advantages in real-time visualization, precise control of chemical concentration gradient generation, and reduced reagent and sample consumption. Recently, a growing effort has been made by the microfluidic researchers toward developing integrated and easily operated microfluidic chemotaxis analysis systems, directly from whole blood. In this direction, the first all-on-chip method was developed for integrating the magnetic negative purification of neutrophils and the chemotaxis assay from small blood volume samples. This new method permits a rapid sample-to-result neutrophil chemotaxis test in 25 min. In this paper, we provide detailed construction, operation and data analysis method for this all-on-chip chemotaxis assay with a discussion on troubleshooting strategies, limitations and future directions. Representative results of the neutrophil chemotaxis assay testing a defined chemoattractant, N-Formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP), and sputum from a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patient, using this all-on-chip method are shown. This method is applicable to many cell migration-related investigations and clinical applications.

Introduction

Chemotaxis, a process of directed cell migration to soluble chemical concentration gradient, is critically involved in many biological processes including immune response^1,2,3, tissue development⁴ and cancer metastasis⁵. Neutrophils are the most abundant white blood cell subset and play crucial roles in enabling the body's innate host defense functions, as well as in mediating adaptive immune responses^6,7. Neutrophils are equipped with highly-regulated chemotactic ma....

Protocol

All human sample collection protocols were approved by the Joint-Faculty Research Ethics Board at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg.

1. Microfluidic Device Fabrication (Figure 1A)

1. Design and print transparency mask.
   1. Design the device as detailed previously²⁵. See Figure 1A.
      NOTE: The device includes two layers. The first layer (4 µm high) defines the cell.......

Discussion

In this paper, a detailed protocol to directly isolate neutrophils from whole blood followed by the chemotaxis test, all on a single microfluidic chip, was described. This method offers useful features in its easy operation, negative selection of high purity neutrophils, rapid sample-to-result chemotaxis test, reduced reagents and sample consumption, and accurate cell migration data analysis. As a rough estimate, at least 25% of the neutrophils from the input whole blood sample effectively entered the docking structure i.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Device fabrication
Mask aligner	ABM	N/A
Spinner	Solitec	5000
Hotplate	VWR	11301-022
Plasma cleaner	Harrick Plasma	PDC-001
Vacuum dessicator	Fisher Scientific	08-594-15A
Digital scale	Ohaus	CS200
SU-8 2000 thinner	Microchem	SU-8 2000
SU-8 2025 photoresist	Microchem	SU-8 2025
SU-8 developer	Microchem	SU-8 developer
Si wafer	Silicon, Inc	LG2065
isopropyl alcohol	Fisher Scientific	A416-4
(tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl) trichlorosilane	Gelest	78560-45-9
Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)	Ellsworth Adhesives	2065622
Petri Dish	Fisher Scientific	FB0875714
Glass slides	Fisher Scientific	12-544-4
Cutting pad	N/A	N/A	Custom-made
Punchers	N/A	N/A	Custom-made
Name	Source	Catalog Number	Comments
On-chip cell isolation and chemotaxis assay
RPMI 1640	Fisher Scientific	SH3025502
DPBS	Fisher Scientific	SH3002802
Bovine serum albumin (BSA)	Sigma-Aldrich	SH3057402
Fibronectin	VWR	CACB356008
fMLP	Sigma-Aldrich	F3506-10MG
Magnetic disks	Indigo Instruments	44202-1	5 mm in diameter, 1 mm thick
FITC-Dextran	Sigma-Aldrich	FD10S
Rhodamine	Sigma-Aldrich	R4127-5G
Giemsa stain solution	Rowley Biochemical Inc.	G-472-1-8OZ
EasySep Direct Human Neutrophil Isolation Kit	STEMCELL Technologies Inc	19666
Dithiothreitol	Sigma-Aldrich	D0632
Nikon Ti-U inverted fluorescent microscope	Nikon	Ti-U
Microscope environmental chamber.	InVivo Scientific	N/A
CCD camera	Nikon	DS-Fi1