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

Yang 1159871该项目是开发基于三维细胞培养的阻抗生物传感器，以提供标记？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3D细胞培养物比传统的2D细胞培养物更准确地模拟实际的体内微环境，因此基于3D细胞培养物的生物传感器有望为体内反应提供更多的生物相关性和预测性数据。该项目将设计一种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矩阵中的细胞作为传感元件。研究内容包括：（1）研究基于三维培养的生物传感器用于检测药物诱导的细胞信号通路的可行性;（2）比较二维和三维细胞传感器的剂量响应范围和IC 50。（3）测试具有不同粘附特性（粘附、差粘附、非粘附）的三种不同前列腺癌细胞系，用于构建作为传感元件的3D培养物，并与传统的2D细胞培养测试相比，比较它们对药物的响应。 该项目将评估拟议的基于三维培养的生物传感器在反映三维和二维培养之间差异方面的能力，并确定此类基于三维培养的阻抗生物传感器在提供更多生物相关信息方面的潜力。 该项目将特别解决北卡罗来纳州中央大学代表性不足群体学生的研究和培训需求。 NCCU是历史悠久的黑人学院和大学（HBCU）之一。教育活动包括（1）将研究纳入课程开发;（2）通过实验室模块，暑期实习和外部培训机会为本科生提供研究机会;（3）拓宽学生？通过邀请外部演讲者到跨学科研讨会系列研究愿景;（4）与两个现有的外展计划，BRITE期货和夏季创业计划，教育K-12学生接触研究工作。目标是扩大学生？在快速发展的生物传感器和生物芯片相关的分析技术的知识，并使学生意识到，现实生活中的当代生物问题可以通过工程微器件解决。

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.