High functionality cell culture platform permitting real time monitoring of cell functions induced by local drug delivery

生物微机电系统和微流体系统具有独特的特性，这使得它们在单细胞水平上对细胞功能和药物影响的研究非常有吸引力。特别是，它们使局部改变细胞培养条件成为可能，例如通过药物输送、表面修饰或机械应力。本研究计划的统一主线将是设计、表征和开发新的细胞培养平台，用于检测细胞对受控培养条件的反应。它的独创性主要在于将微流体元件和电化学微传感器阵列集成在一个单一平台上。特别是，用于细胞内或细胞外实时检测细胞反应的离子选择微电极阵列将与不同类型的药物输送系统相结合。这些平台有潜力满足广泛的应用，从诊断、组织工程产品到基于细胞的药物筛选工具，再到基本的分子生物学工具。该项目结合了微纳米制造、微流体和电化学微传感器阵列，将为BScA、MScA、博士生和博士后学员提供独特的多学科经验。这项培训将对加拿大的“高科技”和“生物技术”产业以及参与生物技术、微/纳米技术和生命科学领域的学者非常有兴趣和意义。

BioMEMS (Bio-Microelectromechanical Systems) and microfluidic systems present unique characteristics that render them very attractive for the study of cell functions and of the impact of drugs at the level of single cells. In particular, they make it possible to alter cell culture conditions locally, by drug delivery, surface modification or mechanical stress, for example. The unifying thread in this research program will be the design, characterization and development of new cell-culture platforms for the detection of cell responses to controlled culture conditions. Its originality primarily lies in the integration on a single platform of microfluidics components and of arrays of electrochemical microsensors. In particular, arrays of ion-selective microelectrodes for real-time intra- or extracellular detection of cell responses will be combined with different types of drug delivery systems. These platforms have the potential to satisfy a broad range of applications varying from diagnostic, tissue-engineered products, to cell-based drug screening tools to basic molecular biology tools. This program, combining micro- and nanofabrication, microfluidics, and array of electrochemical microsensors will provide unique multidisciplinary experience to BScA, MScA, PhD students, as well as post-doctoral trainees. This training will be of great interest and relevance for Canadian "high-tech" and "biotech" industries, and for academics involved in the areas of biotechnology, micro-/nanotechnology and life sciences.