RUI: Unlock the Potential of Three-Dimensional (3D) Cell Cultures as Sensing Elements in Label-free Impedance Biosensors

这个项目是开发基于三维细胞培养的阻抗生物传感器提供标签吗？用于细胞分析和药物发现应用的免费，非侵入性和实时分析工具。这是基于这样一个事实，即3D细胞培养比传统的2D细胞培养更准确地类似于实际的体内微环境，因此基于3D细胞培养的生物传感器有望为体内反应提供更多的生物学相关和预测性数据。该项目将设计一个基于微腔阵列的微芯片，用于构建阻抗生物传感器，并测试两种类型的3D细胞培养物——球体和嵌入3D基质中的细胞作为传感元件。主要研究内容如下：(1)研究基于三维培养的生物传感器用于药物诱导细胞信号通路传感的可行性；(2)比较二维和三维细胞的剂量反应范围和IC50 ？基于生物传感器的不同作用机制药物(3)测试三种不同粘附特性（粘附、粘附差、非粘附）的前列腺癌细胞系，构建三维培养物作为传感元件，并与传统的二维细胞培养试验比较其对药物的反应。该项目将评估拟议的基于3D培养的生物传感器在反映3D和2D培养之间差异方面的能力，并确定这种基于3D培养的阻抗生物传感器在提供更多生物学相关信息方面的潜力。该项目将特别解决北卡罗来纳中央大学（NCCU）代表性不足群体学生的研究和培训需求。北大是历史悠久的黑人学院和大学之一。教育活动包括：(1)将研究融入课程开发；(2)通过实验模块、暑期实习和外部培训机会为本科生提供研究机会；(3)拓宽生源？通过邀请外部演讲者参加跨学科系列研讨会的研究愿景；(4)与现有的两个拓展项目合作，即BRITE期货和夏季创业项目，通过接触研究来教育k-12学生。目标是拓宽学生的视野。了解快速发展的生物传感器和生物芯片相关的分析技术，使学生意识到现实生活中的当代生物问题可以通过工程微设备来解决。

Yang1159871 This project is to develop 3D cell culture-based impedance biosensors to provide label?free, non-invasive and real-time analytical tools for cellular analysis and drug discovery applications. This is based on the fact that 3D cell cultures resemble more accurately the actual in vivo microenvironment than the conventional 2D cell culture, thus 3D cell culture-based biosensors are expected to provide more biologically relevant and predictive data for in vivo responses. The project will design a microcavity array-based microchip for constructing the impedance biosensor and testing two types of 3D cell cultures--spheroids and cells embedded in 3D matrixes as the sensing element. The research tasks include the following: (1) studying the feasibility of such 3D culture-based biosensors for sensing drug-induced cell signaling pathways; (2) comparing the dose response range and IC50 of the 2D and 3D cell?based biosensors to drugs with different action mechanisms; (3) testing three different prostate cancer cell lines with different adherence characteristics (adherent, poorly adherent, non-adherent) for constructing 3D cultures as sensing elements and comparing their responses to drugs in comparison with traditional 2D cell culture tests. The project will evaluate the capability of the proposed 3D culture-based biosensors in reflecting the difference between 3D and 2D cultures, and to determine the potential of such 3D culture-based impedance biosensors in providing more biologically relevant information. This project will particularly address the research and training needs for students from underrepresented groups at North Carolina Central University (NCCU). NCCU is one of the historic black college and universities (HBCU). The education activities include (1) integrating research into course development; (2) providing research opportunities for undergraduate students through lab modules, summer internships, and external training opportunities; (3) broadening students? research vision by inviting external speakers to the interdisciplinary seminar series; (4) working with two existing outreach programs, the BRITE Futures and the Summer venture program, to educate k-12 students by exposure to research. The goal is to broaden students? knowledge in the fast developing biosensor and biochip related analytical technologies, and make students aware that real-life contemporary biological problems can be addressed by engineered microdevices.