Intercellular interactions are crucial in areas ranging from biofilm formation, tissue engineering and cancer therapy. While these interactions are being deeply studied in large groups of cells, less is known on the small cell cluster interactions (a group of less than 10 cells). Given the heterogeneity among cells in a population, small cell cluster studies by flow cytometry are promising for teasing out the roles of subpopulations. Small cell cluster interactions are arguably the simplest building blocks of the immune response to infective cells. A microfluidic screening system was successfully tested and established to measure the interactions between acute myeoloid leukemia cells and macrophages in a high throughout fashion. The hydrogel carrier was modified with desired chemical and mechanical properties, and the cell clusters were encapsulated in hydrogel with a controlled cell number. Furthermore, cell clusters within the microgel showed the capability of up-taking different nanoparticles including lipid nanoparticles, and also exhibited GFP expression. Notably, the phagocytosis of the cell clusters within the microgels were also studied by applying enhancing agents. The correlations between apoptosis and phagocytosis were examined.

Studies of cell interactions in clusters by a microfluidic device

Fall 2022 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch in mid-September.

ACS Fall 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.