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Implantable cell replacement therapies promise to completely restore the function of neural structures, possibly changing how we currently perceive the onset of neurodegenerative diseases. One of the major clinical hurdles for the routine implementation of stem cell therapies is poor cell retention and survival, demanding the need to better understand these mechanisms while providing precise and scalable approaches to monitor these cell-based therapies in both pre-clinical and clinical scenarios. This poses significant multidisciplinary challenges regarding planning, defining the methodology and requirements, prototyping and different stages of testing. Aiming toward an optogenetic neural stem cell implant controlled by a smart wireless electronic frontend, we show how an iterative development methodology coupled with a modular design philosophy can mitigate some of these challenges. In this study, we present a miniaturized, wireless-controlled, modular multisensor platform with fully interfaced electronics featuring three different modules: an impedance analyzer, a potentiostat and an optical stimulator. We show the application of the platform for electrical impedance spectroscopy-based cell monitoring, optical stimulation to induce dopamine release from optogenetically modified neurons and a potentiostat for cyclic voltammetry and amperometric detection of dopamine release. The multisensor platform is designed to be used as an opto-electric headstage for future in vivo animal experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human in vitro models of neural tissue with tunable microenvironment and defined spatial arrangement are needed to facilitate studies of brain development and disease. Towards this end, embedded printing inside granular gels holds great promise as it allows precise patterning of extremely soft tissue constructs. However, granular printing support formulations are restricted to only a handful of materials. Therefore, there has been a need for novel materials that take advantage of versatile biomimicry of bulk hydrogels while providing high‐fidelity support for embedded printing akin to granular gels. To address this need, Authors present a modular platform for bioengineering of neuronal networks via direct embedded 3D printing of human stem cells inside Self‐Healing Annealable Particle‐Extracellular matrix (SHAPE) composites. SHAPE composites consist of soft microgels immersed in viscous extracellular‐matrix solution to enable precise and programmable patterning of human stem cells and consequent generation mature subtype‐specific neurons that extend projections into the volume of the annealed support. The developed approach further allows multi‐ink deposition, live spatial and temporal monitoring of oxygen levels, as well as creation of vascular‐like channels. Due to its modularity and versatility, SHAPE biomanufacturing toolbox has potential to be used in applications beyond functional modeling of mechanically sensitive neural constructs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, mediated amperometry was used to evaluate whether differences in intracellular nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) (NAD(P)H) level could be observed between a genetically modified Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain, engineered for NADPH dependent 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (HMF) reduction, and its control strain. Cells overexpressing the alcohol dehydrogenase 6 gene (ADH6 strain) and cells carrying the corresponding control plasmid (control strain) were each immobilized on Au-microelectrodes. The real-time dynamics of NAD(P)H availability in the two strains, preincubated with HMF, was probed using the menadione--ferricyanide double mediator system. A lower intracellular NADPH level as the consequence of more effective HMF reduction was observed for the ADH6 strain both with and without added glucose, which increases the overall cellular NADPH level. The mediated amperometric signal during real-time monitoring of the concentration dependent HMF reduction in living cells could be translated into the cellular enzyme kinetic parameters: [K.sup.app.sub.M,cell], [V.sub.MAX], [k.sub.cat,cell], and [k.sub.cat,cell]/ The results indicated that the overexpression of the ADH6 gene gave a 68% decrease in [K.sup.app.sub.M,cell] and 42% increase in [V.sub.MAX], resulting in a 4-fold increase in [k.sub.cat,cell]/[K.sup.app.sub.M,cell]. These results demonstrate that the mediated amperometric method is useful for monitoring the short-term dynamics of NAD(P)H variations and determining cellular enzyme kinetic parameters in S. cerevisiae cells. 10.1021/ac901402m

The two main metabolic pathways involved in sugar metabolism, i.e., the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) and the glycolytic pathway (GP), were amperometrically monitored using a double-mediator system composed of menadione and ferricyanide. With the use of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae deletion mutant, EBY44, lacking the gene encoding for the branch point enzyme phosphoglucose isomerize, selective amperometric monitoring of the PPP, mainly producing NADPH, and the GP, mainly producing NADH, could be achieved. It was found that the bioelectrocatalytic current was primarily originating from NADPH. This conclusion was supported by metabolite flux analysis, confirming that, in the presence of menadione, the cells increase the rate of NADPH-producing reactions although these processes might be detrimental to cell survival. The higher rate of in vivo NADPHdependent menadione reduction can be ascribed to the fact that the intracellular NADPH/[NADP.sup.+] ratio is much higher than NADH/[NAD.sup.+] as well as that the former ratio is more tightly controlled. This tight control over the cofactor ratios is lost upon cell disintegration as observed from spectrophotometric assays using crude cell extract, and amperometric investigations of permeabilized cells indicate a higher rate of NADH- than NADPH-dependent menadione reduction. These in vitro experiments show a higher activity of NADH-dependent than NADPH-dependent menadione-reducing dehydrogenases in S. cerevisiae cells.

Compartmentalized microfluidic platforms are an invaluable tool in neuroscience research. However, harnessing the full potential of this technology remains hindered by the lack of a simple fabrication approach for the creation of intricate device architectures with high‐aspect ratio features. Here, a hybrid additive manufacturing approach is presented for the fabrication of open‐well compartmentalized neural devices that provides larger freedom of device design, removes the need for manual postprocessing, and allows an increase in the biocompatibility of the system. Suitability of the method for multimaterial integration allows to tailor the device architecture for the long‐term maintenance of healthy human stem‐cell derived neurons and astrocytes, spanning at least 40 days. Leveraging fast‐prototyping capabilities at both micro and macroscale, a proof‐of‐principle human in vitro model of the nigrostriatal pathway is created. By presenting a route for novel materials and unique architectures in microfluidic systems, the method provides new possibilities in biological research beyond neuroscience applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compare ultrasonic welding (UW) and thermal bonding (TB) for the integration of embedded thin-film gold electrodes for electrochemical applications in injection molded (IM) microfluidic chips. The UW bonded chips showed a significantly superior electrochemical performance compared to the ones obtained using TB. Parameters such as metal thickness of electrodes, depth of electrode embedding, delivered power, and height of energy directors (for UW), as well as pressure and temperature (for TB), were systematically studied to evaluate the two bonding methods and requirements for optimal electrochemical performance. The presented technology is intended for easy and effective integration of polymeric Lab-on-Chip systems to encourage their use in research, commercialization and education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study of the copper binding properties of metformin is important for revealing its mechanism of action as a first-line type-2 diabetes drug. A quantitative investigation of interactions between metformin and l-cysteine–copper complexes was performed. The results suggest that metformin could interact with biological copper, which plays a key role in mitochondrial function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we compare pyrolyzed carbon derived from the photoresist SU-8 alone or in combination with polystyrene and poly(styrene)-block-poly(dimethylsiloxane) copolymer (PS-b-PDMS), to be used as novel materials for micro- and nanoelectrodes. The pyrolyzed carbon films are evaluated with scanning electron microscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, contact angle analysis, and Raman spectroscopy. Furthermore, the standard rate constant for electron transfer is determined from cyclic voltammograms and found to be lower for PS-b-PDMS compared to PS and SU-8 films. This may be related to the lower carbon content of PS-b-PDMS, as well as to its higher microstructural disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a part of developing new systems for continuously monitoring the presence of pesticides in groundwater, a microfluidic amperometric immunosensor was developed for detecting the herbicide residue 2,6-dichlorobenzamide (BAM) in water. A competitive immunosorbent assay served as the sensing mechanism and amperometry was applied for detection. Both the immunoreaction chip (IRC) and detection (D) unit are integrated on a modular microfluidic platform with in-built micro-flow-injection analysis (μFIA) function. The immunosorbent, immobilized in the channel of the IRC, was found to have high long-term stability and withstand many regeneration cycles, both of which are key requirements for systems utilized in continuous monitoring. The IRC was regenerated during 51 cycles in a heterogeneous competitive assay out of which 27 were without the analyte (the highest possible signal level) in order to assess the regeneration capability of the immunosorbent. Detection of BAM standard solutions was performed in the concentration range from 62.5 μg L−1 to 0.0008 μg L−1. Non-linear regression of the data using the four-parameter logistic equation generated a sigmoidal standard curve showing an IC50 value (concentration that reduces the signal by 50%) of 0.25 μg L−1. The strongest signal variation is observed in the concentration range between 0.02 and 2.5 μg L−1, which includes the 0.1 μg L−1 threshold limit set by the European Commission for BAM in drinking water. The presented results demonstrate the potential of the constructed μFIA immunosensor as an at-line monitoring system for controlling the quality of ground water supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the application of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) as a method for discriminating between different polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) scaffolds for three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures. The validity of EIS characterisation for scaffolds having different degree of porosity (networks of structured or random channels) is discussed in relation to Archie's law. Guidelines for EIS analysis are presented and demonstrated to provide porosity information in physiological buffer that agrees well with a more conventional weight-based approach. We also propose frequency ranges that may serve as means of single-frequency measurements for fast scaffold characterization combined with in vitro monitoring of 3D cell cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structurally patterned pyrolysed three-dimensional carbon scaffolds (p3D-carbon) are fabricated and applied for differentiation of human neural stem cells (hNSCs) developed for cell replacement therapy and sensing of released dopamine. In the absence of differentiation factors (DF) the pyrolysed carbon material induces spontaneous hNSC differentiation into mature dopamine-producing neurons and the 3D-topography promotes neurite elongation. In the presence and absence of DF, ≈73-82% of the hNSCs obtain dopaminergic properties on pyrolysed carbon, a to-date unseen efficiency in both two-dimensional (2D) and 3D environment. Due to conductive properties and 3D environment, the p3D-carbon serves as a neurotransmitter trap, enabling electrochemical detection of a significantly larger dopamine fraction released by the hNSC derived neurons than on conventional 2D electrodes. This is the first study of its kind, presenting new conductive 3D scaffolds that provide highly efficient hNSC differentiation to dopaminergic phenotype combined with real-time in situ confirmation of the fate of the hNSC-derived neurons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we demonstrate the fabrication and electrochemical characterization of a microchip with 12 identical but individually addressable electrochemical measuring sites, each consisting of a set of interdigitated electrodes acting as a working electrode as well as two circular electrodes functioning as a counter and reference electrode in close proximity. The electrodes are made of gold on a silicon oxide substrate and are passivated by a silicon nitride membrane. A method for avoiding the creation of high edges at the electrodes (known as lift-off ears) is presented. The microchip design is highly symmetric to accommodate easy electronic integration and provides space for microfluidic inlets and outlets for integrated custom-made microfluidic systems on top. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A surface modification of interdigitated gold microelectrodes (IDEs) with a doped polypyrrole (PPy) film for detection of dopamine released from populations of differentiated PC12 cells is presented. A thin PPy layer was potentiostatically electropolymerized from an aqueous pyrrole solution onto electrode surfaces. The conducting polymer film was doped during electropolymerization by introducing counter-ions in the monomer solution. Several counter-ions were tested and the resulting electrode modifications were characterized electrochemically to find the optimal dopant that increases sensitivity in dopamine detection. Overoxidation of the PPy films was shown to contribute to a significant enhancement in sensitivity to dopamine. The changes caused by overoxidation in the electrochemical behavior and electrode morphology were investigated using cyclic voltammetry and SEM as well as AFM, respectively. The optimal dopant for dopamine detection was found to be polystyrene sulfonate anion (PSS−). Rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells, a suitable model to study exocytotic dopamine release, were differentiated on IDEs functionalized with an overoxidized PSS−-doped PPy film. The modified electrodes were used to amperometrically detect dopamine released by populations of cells upon triggering cellular exocytosis with an elevated K+ concentration. A comparison between the generated current on bare gold electrodes and gold electrodes modified with overoxidized doped PPy illustrates the clear advantage of the modification, yielding 2.6-fold signal amplification. The results also illustrate how to use cell population based dopamine exocytosis measurements to obtain biologically significant information that can be relevant in, for instance, the study of neural stem cell differentiation into dopaminergic neurons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An electrochemical detection system specifically designed for multi-parameter real-time monitoring of stem cell culturing/differentiation in a microfluidic system is presented. It is composed of a very compact 24-channel electronic board, compatible with arrays of microelectrodes and coupled to a microfluidic cell culture system. A versatile data acquisition software enables performing amperometry, cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy in each of the 12 independent chambers over a 100 kHz bandwidth with current resolution down to 5 pA for 100 ms measuring time. The design of the platform, its realization and experimental characterization are reported, with emphasis on the analysis of impact of input capacitance (i.e., microelectrode size) and microfluidic pump operation on current noise. Programmable sequences of successive injections of analytes (ferricyanide and dopamine) and rinsing buffer solution as well as the impedimetric continuous tracking for seven days of the proliferation of a colony of PC12 cells are successfully demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

B 2020 b , I 7 i , 2001150 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202001150 In the originally published article, some information was missing in the acknowledgements. Lund University Bioimaging Centre (LBIC), Lund University, is gratefully acknowledged for providing experimental resources for SEM. J.U.L. and C.J.P. would like to acknowledge The European Commission MSCA-IF (798820), Lundbeck Foundation (R250-2017-1425) and The Independent Research Fund Denmark (8048-00050) for their support. [Extracted from the article]

In Parkinson's disease, the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra leads to a decrease in the physiological levels of dopamine in striatum. The existing dopaminergic therapies effectively alleviate the symptoms, albeit they do not revert the disease progression and result in significant adverse effects. Transplanting dopaminergic neurons derived from stem cells could restore dopamine levels without additional motor complications. However, the transplanted cells disperse in vivo and it is not possible to stimulate them on demand to modulate dopamine release to prevent dyskinesia. In order to address these issues, this paper presents a multifunctional leaky optoelectrical fiber for potential neuromodulation and as a cell substrate for application in combined optogenetic stem cell therapy. Pyrolytic carbon coated optical fibers are laser ablated to pattern micro‐optical windows to permit light leakage over a large area. The pyrolytic carbon acts as an excellent electrode for the electrochemical detection of dopamine. Human neural stem cells are genetically modified to express the light sensitive opsin channelrhodopsin‐2 and are differentiated into dopaminergic neurons on the leaky optoelectrical fiber. Finally, light leaking from the micro‐optical windows is used to stimulate the dopaminergic neurons resulting in the release of dopamine that is detected in real‐time using chronoamperometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The barley aleurone layer is an established model system for studying phytohormone signalling, enzyme secretion and programmed cell death during seed germination. Most analyses performed on the aleurone layer are end-point assays based on cell extracts, meaning each sample is only analysed at a single time point. By immobilising barley aleurone layer tissue on polydimethylsiloxane pillars in the lid of a multiwell plate, continuous monitoring of living tissue is enabled using multiple non-destructive assays in parallel. Cell viability and menadione reducing capacity were monitored in the same aleurone layer samples over time, in the presence or absence of plant hormones and other effectors. The system is also amenable to transient gene expression by particle bombardment, with simultaneous monitoring of cell death. In conclusion, the easy to handle and efficient experimental setup developed here enables continuous monitoring of tissue samples, parallelisation of assays and single cell analysis, with potential for time course studies using any plant tissue that can be immobilised, for example leaves or epidermal peels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]