APTALAPS · Investigation of the interaction of mesenchymal stem cells with aptamer modified surfaces using Light-Addressable Potentiometric Sensors (LAPS)

Investigation of the interaction of mesenchymal stem cells with aptamer modified surfaces using Light-Addressable Potentiometric Sensors (LAPS)

The aim of this project was to develop a new method to immobilize aptamers of stem cells onto silicon-on-sapphire (SOS) substrates, to capture cells by affinity interaction between aptamer and target cells, and investigate two-dimensional electrochemical images of parameters such as local cell impedance, membrane surface-potential, ion channel activity, and two-photon fluorescence images with subcellular resolution using the impedance imaging technique Scanning Photo-induced Impedance Microscopy (SPIM) and the electrical potential imaging technique Light-Addressable Potentiometric Sensors (LAPS). Aptamers are artificial functional oligonucleic acids which can bind their respective targets with high affinity and specificity ranging from small inorganic or organic molecules to whole cells. The non-covalent affinity interaction between aptamer and cells support physiological integrin modulated cell attachment processes. Aptamers with specificity to target integrin heterodimers were going to be developed and patterned on LAPS substrates and the mechanism of attachment regulated stem cell differentiation studied. The proposed technique has the advantage that functional electrochemical imaging of the cell-surface interface can be carried out, which is not accessible to other electrochemical techniques. As described in the Proposal of the APTALAPS project, there are four objectives to be completed: Work Package 1: Aptamer development for the binding of mesenchymal stem cells; Work Package 2: Aptamer immobilisation and patterning on LAPS substrates; Work Package 3: Investigation of cell binding and signalling using LAPS; Work Package 4: Studying of stem cell differentiation on surfaces modified with aptamers by LAPS and SPIM imaging. The proposed research links into the Health area of Horizon 2020, and more specifically into innovative treatments and technologies such as cell therapies and tissue engineering. The single osteoblast cell LAPS imaging achieved in this project will have major benefits in the area of tissue engineering materials such as bone grafts and provide a new measurement tool for imaging of the cell attachment area. The results of the project will inform the development of tissue engineering materials and impact on the health care and biomaterials industries, which are central to Europe's ongoing and future economic success, and are directly relevant to the theme priority of personalizing health and care in Horizon 2020 - producing knowledge that will be applied in the area of health and medicine.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union