کد مقاله | کد نشریه | سال انتشار | مقاله انگلیسی | نسخه تمام متن |
---|---|---|---|---|
464041 | 697273 | 2013 | 8 صفحه PDF | دانلود رایگان |
Lipid nanotubes interconnecting mammalian cells, sometimes referred to as tunneling nanotubes, have recently received increased attention, as their importance in intercellular transport and communication has been recognized. We present a set of microfabrication procedures for the deliberate formation of intercellular nanotube links between single mammalian cells, employing microneedle manipulation protocols, developed earlier for nanotube-vesicle networks. Cell-to-cell connections were established, and their effectiveness for intercellular transport of molecular cargo was demonstrated. We initiate transport of Ca2+ ions and fluorescein diphosphate, a prefluorescent enzyme substrate, between cells, and demonstrate the validity and effectiveness of artificially created nanotube connections for cell-to-cell communication. We thus provide a new experimental model for probing cell-to-cell communication, which we deem the foundation for man-made network architectures involving biological cells. This model can greatly facilitate fundamental studies of cell-to-cell communication modes, the exchange of cell constituents and components, and the dynamics of biochemical reactions in native network environments.
Journal: Nano Communication Networks - Volume 4, Issue 4, December 2013, Pages 197–204