Microfluidic devices are ideal for analysis of biological systems. The small dimensions result to controlled handling of the flow profile and the cells in suspension. Implementation of additional forces in the system, such as an electric field, promote further manipulation of the cells. In this dissertation, I show novel, unique microfluidic approaches for manipulation and analysis of mammalian cells by the aid of electrical methods or the architecture of the device. Specifically, for the first time, it is shown, that adoption of electrical methods, using surface electrodes, promotes cell concentration in a microchamber due to isoelectric focusing (IEF). In contrast to conventional IEF techniques for protein separation, a matrix is not required in our system, the presence of which would even block the movement of the bulky cells. Electric field is, also, used to breach the cell membrane and gain access to the cell interior by electroporation (irreversible and reversible). Irreversible electroporation is used in a unique, integrated microfluidic device for cell lysis and reagentless extraction of DNA. The genomic material is subsequently analyzed by on-chip PCR, demonstrating the possible elimination of the purification step. On the other hand, reversible electroporation is used for the delivery of exogenous molecules to cells. For the first time, the effect of shear stress on the electroporation efficiency of both attached and suspended cells is examined. On the second part of my dissertation, I explore the capabilities of the architecture of microfluidic devices for cell analysis. A simple, unique method for compartmentalization of a microchamber in an array of picochambers is presented. The main idea of the device lies on the fabrication of solid supports on the main layer of the device. These features may even hold a dual nature (e.g. for cell trapping, and chamber support), in which case, single cell analysis is possible (such as single cell PCR). On the final chapter of my dissertation, a computational analysis of the flow and concentration profiles of a device with hydrodynamic focusing is conducted. I anticipate, that all these novel techniques will be used on integrated microfluidic systems for cell analysis, towards point-of-care diagnostics. / Ph. D.

Im Zuge der frühen embryonalen Herzentwicklung entstehen ausgehend von einem einfachen Herzschlauch zwei deutlich voneinander getrennte Herzkammern. Die Kardiomyozyten des Atriums und Ventrikels weisen spezifische Eigenschaften auf, die sich morphologisch wie auch funktionell auf das Herz auswirken. Veränderungen in der Gewebsarchitektur werden hauptsächlich durch Zellinterkalation und kollektive Zellmigration erreicht. Viele Studien zeigen, dass der Wnt/PCP-Signalweg eine essentielle Rolle in der Regulation dieser Bewegungen einnimmt. Die Daten dieser Studie belegen, dass die nicht-kanonischen Liganden Wnt11 und Wnt5b sowie die Kernkomponenten des PCP Signalweges Fzd7, Vangl2, Dvl2 und Pk1 an der Steuerung der Reorganisation der Kardiomyozyten während der Kammerbildung beteiligt sind, was Einfluss auf die Architektur des frühen Myokardiums nimmt. Effektoren des PCP Signalweges umfassen das Zytoskelett sowie Adhäsions- und Migrationsprozesse. In dieser Studie wird gezeigt, dass die Komponenten dieses Signalweges im Myokardium hauptsächlich Prozesse der Actomyosin Modulation regulieren und damit unter anderem die Morphologie der Kardiomyozyten beeinflussen. Zusätzlich ist die frühe Kardiogenese durch eine Relokalisierung der phosphorylierten Form der Myosin Regulatory Light Chain (MRLC) vom Kern zur Membran gekennzeichnet. Hier wird gezeigt, dass die Phosphorylierung von MRLC sowie die Relokalisation von den Kernkomponenten des PCP Signalweges kontrolliert werden sowie dass es im Verlauf der frühen Herzentwicklung u.a. durch die Relokalisierung von pMRLC zu Änderungen in der Gewebespannung kommt, welche sich auf die nukleäre Spannung auswirken und damit Veränderungen in der Genregulation hervorrufen. Diese Veränderungen werden hauptsächlich durch Effekte auf die Lokalisation und Aktivität des Serum Response Factors (SRF) vermittelt, welche in diesem Kontext durch die PCP Kernkomponente Pk1 reguliert sind. / Formation of a complex multiple-chambered heart from the simple linear heart tube does not only require orchestrated morphogenesis of the myocardium, but also cardiac muscle differentiation and changes in intercellular electrical coupling. To date, the processes that lead to the formation of a functional syncytium are incompletely understood. One of the major pathways controlling multiple aspects of organogenesis and tissue morphogenesis is the planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway. Changes in tissue architecture are controlled by cell intercalation and collective cell migration. It is widely accepted that Wnt/PCP signaling plays a crucial role in guiding these cellular processes. This study provides evidence that morphogenesis of the heart is controlled by the non-canonical ligands Wnt11 and Wnt5b and the PCP core components Fzd7, Vangl2, Dvl2, and Pk1 through regulation of cell rearrangements during embryonic cardiac remodeling. Downstream effectors of the PCP pathway target adhesion processes, cytoskeleton, and migration. Here, it is revealed that PCP signaling in the heart affects cardiomyocyte morphology and actomyosin organization. Specifically, changes in the subcellular localization of the phosphorylated non-muscle myosin II regulatory light chain (pMRLC) at LHT stage are targeted by the PCP pathway core components. Furthermore, actomyosin relocalization concurs with changes in nuclear tension and SRF signal transduction within the myocardium. This study unravels a novel function of the PCP core component Pk1 in regulation of SRF translocation and target gene expression that is critical to cardiac maturation. Taken together, this study provides evidence that the PCP pathway is a major regulator of cardiac remodeling and organ maturation by modulating mechanosensitive SRF signal transduction involved in muscle differentiation.