Understanding microscale biological processes as cells develop into tissues is one of the most important, yet most difficult, problems in modern biology. Cells encounter a dynamic chemical and physical environment and delineating the myriad of variables proves daunting with even the most sophisticated experiments. This dissertation focuses on the development and application of unique enabling technologies designed to sample and control biological microenvironments. By developing two approaches – one aimed at intracellular biochemistry and another for extracellular targets – based on photochemistry and optical force generation, research presented here will allow new areas of subcellular dynamics to be addressed. On the intracellular side, enzyme-immobilized polymeric microspheres or enzyme microstructures are placed into the cell cytosol via optical tweezers for sustained and localized chemical modification of the intracellular environment. This approach is complemented by the use of extracellular guidance barriers formed from photo-induced crosslinking of proteins. Through the use of minimally toxic photosensitizers and femtosecond (fs) near infrared (NIR) light, it is possible to fabricate three-dimensional protein structures in a living cell’s environment. Moreover, this work explores the ability to form protein structures with enzymatic activity as well as with high aspect-ratio features at micron resolution. Finally, the photochemical transformation of serotonin into a highly fluorescent visible photoproduct is investigated as a means to overcome problems associated with sample size in neurotransmitter detection during synaptic chemical signaling. Optimization of this multiphoton process entails understanding the mechanism by which the photoproduct is created and experiments towards this goal are presented here. Ultimately, the precision and flexibility of these technologies will allow access to new areas of the biosciences. / text

Nesse trabalho são apresentados resultados sobre o desenvolvimento de microeletrodos por desgaste eletroquímico de microfibras de dimensões da ordem de 100 µm de diferentes materiais (platina, ouro e fibra de carbono) visando à utilização em micro-ambientes. Na grande maioria dos casos esse processo foi realizado utilizando transformadores AC. Arranjo de microeletrodos construídos a partir de técnicas litográficas também foram construídos. A aplicabilidade de microeletrodos de Pt construídos por desgaste eletroquímico foi avaliada para monitorar a concentração \"in-situ\" de ácido ascórbico em diferentes frutas. O sensor foi capaz de avaliar a distribuição espacial da concentração de ácido ascórbico \"in-situ\" em laranjas. A partir desses resultados, mapas para a concentração de ácido ascórbico foram construídos. A correlação entre o estado de maturação e a concentração de ácido ascorbico também foi observada a partir das medições realizadas e concentrações maiores foram encontradas em frutas mais maduras. O arranjo de microeletrodos foi utilizado para avaliar a concentração de iodato em amostra de sal de cozinha utilizado pequenos volumes de amostra (500 µL). Verificada a possibilidade de fabricação de microeletrodos de diferentes geometrias e dimensões, estudos visando ao monitoramento e à detecção de DNA e ácido ascórbico foram efetuados. Superfícies eletródicas modificadas com filmes de óxido de rutênio hexacianoferrato (RuOHCF) foram utilizadas para a detecção amperométrica de 2\'-deoxiguanosina (dG) e ácido ascórbico por análise por injeção em fluxo (FIA). O método para detecção de dG apresentou um resposta linear de 3,8 a 252 µmol L-1, com um limite de detecção de 94 nmol L-1. Aplicações em amostras de DNA também foram realizadas, e os resultados para determinação da dG concordaram com os obtidos pelo método padrão (HPLC). Estudos sobre o processo eletrocatalítico de oxidação da dG em meio ácido em filmes de RuOHCF foram investigados utilizando eletrodo rotativo. Sobre esse mesma superfície modificada, o processo eletrocatalítico permitiu a determinação de ácido ascórbico em pH = 6,9 a 0,0 V vs Ag/AgCl em FIA, com um limite de detecção de 2,2 µmol L-1. Estudos sobre o processo eletrocatalítico de oxidação do ácido ascórbico também foram avaliados com eletrodo rotativo. O método foi aplicado para a determinação de ácido ascórbico em urina, obtendo-se bons valores de recuperação (96 - 104 %). Microeletrodos contendo filmes eletrodepositados de RuOHCF foram utilizados para monitorar o consumo de ácido ascórbico em 3 diferentes tipos de células neuronais (SH-SY5Y, células transfectadas com SOD humana e mutante típica da doença de Esclerose Lateral Amiotrófica (ALS)). Os resultados do consumo de ácido ascórbico para essas células estão de acordo com os níveis de estresse oxidativo induzido pela SOD mutante. Experimentos visando a aplicabilidade de microeletrodos inseridos em células também foram efetuados. / Results on the development of microelectrodes fabricated by electrochemical etching using fibers of different materials (platinum, gold and carbon fiber) and dimensions (starting from 100 µm) for the application in micronenvironments are presented. In almost all cases this procedure was carried out using AC transformer. Array of microelectrodes were also fabricated by using litographic techniques. The applicability of Pt microelectrodes fabricated by electrochemical etching was evaluated in the in-situ monitoring of the ascorbic acid concentration in different fruits. The sensor allowed spatial distribution of ascorbic acid concentration in oranges to be found and concentration maps were constructed. A correlation between the ripening stage and the ascorbic acid concentration was also observed from electrochemical measurements, the ascorbic acid content being higher in mature fruits. Studies on the detection of species involved in the oxidative stress process, such as DNA and ascorbic acid, were also performed. Ruthenium oxide hexacyanoferrate (RuOHCF) modified electrode surfaces were used as amperometric detectors for 2\'-deoxyguanosine (dG) and ascorbic acid determinations in FIA apparatus. The method exhibited a linear response range to 2\'-deoxyguanosine from 3.8 to 252 µmol L-1 dG with detection limit of 94 nmol L-1. Applications in DNA samples were examined, and the results for determination of 2\'-deoxyguanosine were in good agreement with those obtained by HPLC analysis. The dG electrocatalytic oxidation at a RuOHCF glassy carbon (GC) modified electrode was investigated in acid medium by using rotating disc electrode (RDE) voltammetry. On this modified surface, the electrocatalytic process allowed the determination of ascorbic acid to be performed at 0.0 V and pH = 6.9 with a limit of detection of 2.2 µmol L-1 in a flow injection configuration. The usefulness of the method was demonstrated by an addition-recovery experiment with urine samples and the recovered values were in the 96 to 104 % range. Investigations on the mechanism of the electrocatalytic oxidation of ascorbic acid was also investigated at pH = 6.9 by using RDE voltammetry. The RuOHCF carbon fiber modified microelectrode was used to monitor the ascorbate uptake by control SH-SY5Y cells, and cells transfected with wild-type Cu,Zn-Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) or with a mutant SOD (SOD G93A) typical of familial Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Data on the rate of ascorbate uptake by these cells were in agreement with the level of oxidative stress induced by the mutant SOD. Attemps to use the microelectrodes inside single cells were also performed

Alterations to the tumour microenvironment is a common feature of many cancers, including breast cancer, and there is increasing evidence that alterations to the microenvironment, including; increased integrin expression, ECM deposition and protease activity, promote cancer progression. Most invasive breast cancers arise from a preinvasive stage, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Previous work in our laboratory has shown the microenvironment of DCIS is altered, such that myoepithelial cells (MECs) switch to a tumour-promoting phenotype, associated with upregulation of integrin αvβ6 and fibronectin (FN) expression. Mechanisms by which integrin αvβ6 and FN expression are regulated is unclear. We show DCIS progression into invasion is accompanied by an increase in MEC expression of integrin αvβ6 and periductal FN deposition, and their expression were associated in DCIS. These findings were modelled in isolated primary DCIS-MECs, primary normal MECs and MEC lines, with and without integrin αvβ6 expression, where integrin αvβ6-positive MECs upregulating FN expression. We identified integrin αvβ6-positive DCIS ducts were larger than integrin αvβ6-negative DCIS ducts, and mechanical stretching of primary normal MECs and a normal MEC line led to upregulation of integrin αvβ6 expression and FN deposition in a TGFβ-dependent manner. We further show upregulation of integrin αvβ6 and FN by MECs mediate TGFβ-dependent upregulation of MMP13 which promotes breast cancer cell invasion in vitro. These data show altered tissue mechanics in DCIS and MEC expression of integrin αvβ6 and FN deposition are linked, and implicate TGFβ in their activation. These findings suggest integrin αvβ6 and FN may be used as markers to stratify DCIS patients.

This thesis describes the development of microfluidic (MF) platforms for the study of biological and chemical processes. In particular the thesis is divided into two distinct parts: (i) development of a MF methodology to generate tunable cell-laden microenvironments for detailed studies of cell behavior, and (ii) the design and fabrication of MF reactors for studies of chemical reactions. First, this thesis presented the generation of biopolymer microenvironments for cell studies. In the first project we demonstrated a high-throughput MF system for generating cell-laden agarose microgels with a controllable ratio of two different types of cells. The MF co-encapsulation system was shown to be a robust method for identifying autocrine and/or paracrine dependence of specific cell subpopulations. In the second project we studied the effect of the mechanical properties on the behavior of acute myeloid leukemia (AML2) cancer cells. Cell-laden macroscopic agarose gels were prepared at varying agarose concentrations. A modest range of the elastic modulus of the agarose gels were achieved, ranging from 0.62 kPa to 20.21 kPa at room temperature. We observed a pronounced decrease in cell proliferation in stiffer gels when compared to the gels with lower elastic moduli. The second part of the thesis focuses on the development of MF platforms for studying chemical reactions. In the third project presented in this thesis, we exploited the temperature dependent solubility of CO2 in order to: (i) study the temperature mediated CO2 transfer between the gas and the various liquid phases on short time scales, and (ii) to generate bubbles with a dense layer of colloid particles (armoured bubbles). The fourth project involved the fabrication of a multi-modal MF device with integrated analytical probes. The MF device comprised a pH, temperature, and ATR-FTIR probes for in-situ analysis of chemical reactions in real-time. Furthermore, the MF reactor featured a temperature controlled feedback system capable of maintaining on-chip temperatures at flow rates up to 50 mL/hr.

This thesis describes the development of microfluidic (MF) platforms for the study of biological and chemical processes. In particular the thesis is divided into two distinct parts: (i) development of a MF methodology to generate tunable cell-laden microenvironments for detailed studies of cell behavior, and (ii) the design and fabrication of MF reactors for studies of chemical reactions. First, this thesis presented the generation of biopolymer microenvironments for cell studies. In the first project we demonstrated a high-throughput MF system for generating cell-laden agarose microgels with a controllable ratio of two different types of cells. The MF co-encapsulation system was shown to be a robust method for identifying autocrine and/or paracrine dependence of specific cell subpopulations. In the second project we studied the effect of the mechanical properties on the behavior of acute myeloid leukemia (AML2) cancer cells. Cell-laden macroscopic agarose gels were prepared at varying agarose concentrations. A modest range of the elastic modulus of the agarose gels were achieved, ranging from 0.62 kPa to 20.21 kPa at room temperature. We observed a pronounced decrease in cell proliferation in stiffer gels when compared to the gels with lower elastic moduli. The second part of the thesis focuses on the development of MF platforms for studying chemical reactions. In the third project presented in this thesis, we exploited the temperature dependent solubility of CO2 in order to: (i) study the temperature mediated CO2 transfer between the gas and the various liquid phases on short time scales, and (ii) to generate bubbles with a dense layer of colloid particles (armoured bubbles). The fourth project involved the fabrication of a multi-modal MF device with integrated analytical probes. The MF device comprised a pH, temperature, and ATR-FTIR probes for in-situ analysis of chemical reactions in real-time. Furthermore, the MF reactor featured a temperature controlled feedback system capable of maintaining on-chip temperatures at flow rates up to 50 mL/hr.

Nesse trabalho são apresentados resultados sobre o desenvolvimento de microeletrodos por desgaste eletroquímico de microfibras de dimensões da ordem de 100 µm de diferentes materiais (platina, ouro e fibra de carbono) visando à utilização em micro-ambientes. Na grande maioria dos casos esse processo foi realizado utilizando transformadores AC. Arranjo de microeletrodos construídos a partir de técnicas litográficas também foram construídos. A aplicabilidade de microeletrodos de Pt construídos por desgaste eletroquímico foi avaliada para monitorar a concentração \"in-situ\" de ácido ascórbico em diferentes frutas. O sensor foi capaz de avaliar a distribuição espacial da concentração de ácido ascórbico \"in-situ\" em laranjas. A partir desses resultados, mapas para a concentração de ácido ascórbico foram construídos. A correlação entre o estado de maturação e a concentração de ácido ascorbico também foi observada a partir das medições realizadas e concentrações maiores foram encontradas em frutas mais maduras. O arranjo de microeletrodos foi utilizado para avaliar a concentração de iodato em amostra de sal de cozinha utilizado pequenos volumes de amostra (500 µL). Verificada a possibilidade de fabricação de microeletrodos de diferentes geometrias e dimensões, estudos visando ao monitoramento e à detecção de DNA e ácido ascórbico foram efetuados. Superfícies eletródicas modificadas com filmes de óxido de rutênio hexacianoferrato (RuOHCF) foram utilizadas para a detecção amperométrica de 2\'-deoxiguanosina (dG) e ácido ascórbico por análise por injeção em fluxo (FIA). O método para detecção de dG apresentou um resposta linear de 3,8 a 252 µmol L-1, com um limite de detecção de 94 nmol L-1. Aplicações em amostras de DNA também foram realizadas, e os resultados para determinação da dG concordaram com os obtidos pelo método padrão (HPLC). Estudos sobre o processo eletrocatalítico de oxidação da dG em meio ácido em filmes de RuOHCF foram investigados utilizando eletrodo rotativo. Sobre esse mesma superfície modificada, o processo eletrocatalítico permitiu a determinação de ácido ascórbico em pH = 6,9 a 0,0 V vs Ag/AgCl em FIA, com um limite de detecção de 2,2 µmol L-1. Estudos sobre o processo eletrocatalítico de oxidação do ácido ascórbico também foram avaliados com eletrodo rotativo. O método foi aplicado para a determinação de ácido ascórbico em urina, obtendo-se bons valores de recuperação (96 - 104 %). Microeletrodos contendo filmes eletrodepositados de RuOHCF foram utilizados para monitorar o consumo de ácido ascórbico em 3 diferentes tipos de células neuronais (SH-SY5Y, células transfectadas com SOD humana e mutante típica da doença de Esclerose Lateral Amiotrófica (ALS)). Os resultados do consumo de ácido ascórbico para essas células estão de acordo com os níveis de estresse oxidativo induzido pela SOD mutante. Experimentos visando a aplicabilidade de microeletrodos inseridos em células também foram efetuados. / Results on the development of microelectrodes fabricated by electrochemical etching using fibers of different materials (platinum, gold and carbon fiber) and dimensions (starting from 100 µm) for the application in micronenvironments are presented. In almost all cases this procedure was carried out using AC transformer. Array of microelectrodes were also fabricated by using litographic techniques. The applicability of Pt microelectrodes fabricated by electrochemical etching was evaluated in the in-situ monitoring of the ascorbic acid concentration in different fruits. The sensor allowed spatial distribution of ascorbic acid concentration in oranges to be found and concentration maps were constructed. A correlation between the ripening stage and the ascorbic acid concentration was also observed from electrochemical measurements, the ascorbic acid content being higher in mature fruits. Studies on the detection of species involved in the oxidative stress process, such as DNA and ascorbic acid, were also performed. Ruthenium oxide hexacyanoferrate (RuOHCF) modified electrode surfaces were used as amperometric detectors for 2\'-deoxyguanosine (dG) and ascorbic acid determinations in FIA apparatus. The method exhibited a linear response range to 2\'-deoxyguanosine from 3.8 to 252 µmol L-1 dG with detection limit of 94 nmol L-1. Applications in DNA samples were examined, and the results for determination of 2\'-deoxyguanosine were in good agreement with those obtained by HPLC analysis. The dG electrocatalytic oxidation at a RuOHCF glassy carbon (GC) modified electrode was investigated in acid medium by using rotating disc electrode (RDE) voltammetry. On this modified surface, the electrocatalytic process allowed the determination of ascorbic acid to be performed at 0.0 V and pH = 6.9 with a limit of detection of 2.2 µmol L-1 in a flow injection configuration. The usefulness of the method was demonstrated by an addition-recovery experiment with urine samples and the recovered values were in the 96 to 104 % range. Investigations on the mechanism of the electrocatalytic oxidation of ascorbic acid was also investigated at pH = 6.9 by using RDE voltammetry. The RuOHCF carbon fiber modified microelectrode was used to monitor the ascorbate uptake by control SH-SY5Y cells, and cells transfected with wild-type Cu,Zn-Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) or with a mutant SOD (SOD G93A) typical of familial Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Data on the rate of ascorbate uptake by these cells were in agreement with the level of oxidative stress induced by the mutant SOD. Attemps to use the microelectrodes inside single cells were also performed

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第20618号 / 医博第4267号 / 新制||医||1023(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 髙折 晃史, 教授 羽賀 博典, 教授 江藤 浩之 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

L'objectif de ce travail était de mettre au point un système de culture tridimensionnel compartimenté pour la différentiation de cellules neurales et la croissance des neurites en 3D. Les matériaux biomimétiques permettent l'élaboration de microenvironnements contrôlés qui peuvent orienter la réponse cellulaire. Ils sont particulièrement intéressants pour les études fondamentales visant à étudier des voies de signalisation impliquées dans des processus physiologiques ou pathologiques. Nous nous sommes intéressés à la maladie d'Alzheimer, où l'on observe des neurites dystrophiques associés aux plaques amyloïdes. Aucune relation n'a été réellement établie entre l'interaction neurites - agrégats, leur dystrophie et la mort neuronale. Dans un premier temps, nous avons décrit et caractérisé la structure et les propriétés de matrices de collagène fibrillaire d'épaisseur calibrée. Ensuite, nous avons mis au point la fonctionnalisation de ces matrices avec des facteurs de croissance neurotrophiques (NGF et BDNF). Deux techniques ont été étudiées : l'imprégnation/libération et le couplage covalent. Ces matrices fonctionnalisées ont été validées comme support pour la différenciation de cellules nerveuses (PC-12 et SH-SY5Y) par des études de la morphologie cellulaire. Enfin, nous avons caractérisé des agrégats amyloïdes (Aβ) formés à l'intérieur des matrices de collagène par co-précipitation du peptide Aβ avec le collagène et nous avons étudié leur toxicité sur les cellules neurales. / The objective of this work was to develop a 3D compartmented cell culture set-up that allow the differentiation of nerve cells and the growth of neurites in the matrix depth. Biomimetic materials enable the formation of controlled microenvironments that orient cell behavior. They are particularly interesting for fundamental studies that aim to study signaling pathways involved in physiologic or pathologic processes. We focused on Alzheimer's disease, in which dystrophic neurites are associated to amyloid plaques. No direct relationship has yet been established between Aβ aggregates-neurite interaction, neurite dystrophy and cell death. First, we described and characterized the structure and properties of fibrillar collagen matrices with adapted thickness. Then, we adjusted functionalization of these matrices with neurotrophic growth factors (NGF and BDNF). Two methods were studied: impregnation/release and covalent coupling. Cell morphology studies confirmed that these functionalized matrices were efficient supports for nerve cells differentiation (PC-12 and SH-SY5Y). Finally, we have characterized Aβ aggregates that were formed inside collagen matrices by coprecipitation of amyloid peptide and collagen and we studied their toxicity on neural cells.

From the Proceedings of the 1978 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona Academy of Science - April 14-15, 1978, Flagstaff, Arizona / Described is a microroughness meter developed to obtain numerous and accurate measurements of rangeland surface microroughness and characteristics. The meter, which consists of four basic parts: (1) meter base and pin guide, (2) pin lifting support bar and lifting mechanism, (3) 100 vertically moving pins, and (4) stripchart support guide and winding mechanism, was designed to measure soil surface evaluations and characteristics of a 1m2 plot. Performance tests on multi-plot sprinkler infiltrometer studies conducted on the Santa Rita Experimental Range in southeastern Arizona indicated that the meter was accurate and relatively precise in repeating soil surface roughness measurements but was not precise in defining the theoretical characteristics of constructed surfaces. It was concluded, however, that these errors in precision were insignificant and due partly to surface geometry construction errors and that the meter is a convenient, quick, simple and accurate means of measuring surface roughness in studies requiring many plots and data points.