Our Research - Microfluidics and Lab on a chip
Overview
Microfluidics is the science and technology of controlling volumes of fluids ranging from microlitres to picolitres. Microfluidic devices are typically characterized by channel networks with at least one dimension in the micrometre range. The technology enables greater control over mass transport in fluids to be achieved using reduced sample volumes and ensures fast prototyping. We use microfluidic and lab-on-a-chip technologies for the development of screening and diagnostic systems for healthcare applications, including fundamental biological research, drug screening and precision medicine, for the creation of in vitro models, organ-on-a-chip and for synthetic biology applications.
Website of the Zagnoni lab: www.zagnonilab.com
Current projects
Automated microfluidic anticancer drug screening of human tumour biopsies
Ms Paterson, Dr Zagnoni, AMS Biotechnology (Europe) Ltd
The aim of this project is to automate an animal-free, anticancer drug testing microfluidic technology that maximises the number of compounds screened on human tumour tissue biopsies. With this project, we address the industrial needs of translating the technology from academic laboratory environments to SME R\&D settings.
Developing a modular neuro-technology
Mr Megarity, Dr Bushell, Dr Zagnoni
The aim of this studentship is to develop a new technology based on modular microfluidic bricks that will enable the formation of interconnected functional neuronal networks by assembling components in a user-defined manner to design powerful, innovative cell-based assays for studying central nervous system (CNS) disorders.
A microfluidic approach to investigating vascular cell fate at the single-cell level
Ms Smith, Dr Sandison, Dr Zagnoni, AMS Biotechnology (Europe) Ltd
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide and stems from changes in blood vessel structure. As a result of cell accumulation and growth in the vessel’s inner layers, “plaques” form that narrow arteries and obstruct blood flow. However, uncertainties remain over the origin of the cells populating plaques, the behavioural changes they undergo during disease and the role of interactions between different cell types. This project will shed new light on the mechanisms causing abnormal proliferation of vascular cells and the cell sub-populations involved. Understanding this, and especially the variations existing at the single cell level, is critical to developing new treatments. Therefore, we will develop a new methodology to continuously track the functional changes that single cells from the vascular wall undergo in response to various stimuli and drug treatments.
Development of microfluidic high-throughput bioassays based on 3D matrix-supported spheroids
Ms Christ, Prof Flint, Dr Boyd, Dr Edwards, Dr Zagnoni, AMS Biotechnology (Europe) Ltd
The aim of this project is to design novel microfluidic devices with associated procedures that allow the generation and long-term culture of 3D tumour spheroids in order to perform miniaturised high-throughput drug screening assays. Physiologically relevant 3D cancer models are studied using both cell lines and primary human tissue from biopsies for a long period of time within the microfluidics. Microfluidic passive networks are used to maximise the analysis possible from limited cell sources.
LOC platform for high-throughput screening of anti-cancer therapeutics and delivery agents in prostate cancer
Mr Gilmartin, Dr Burley, Prof Leung, Dr Zagnoni
The aim of this studentship is to develop a new platform technology to screen emerging anti-cancer therapeutics and delivery agents (i.e., cell-penetrating peptides) being developed in the Beatson Institute and the University of Strathclyde for the treatment of castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). This studentship will involve developing a microfluidics platform that will enable screening the parameters of drug concentration, cell type, cell penetration in 3D structures and assaying the effects of the drug in a high-throughput format.
Developing an assay to measure neuron-to-neuron spread of α-synuclein pathology on a microfluidics platform
Dr Robertson, Dr Dolt, Dr Kunath, Dr Zagnoni, UCB Biopharma
The overall aim of this project is to establish a novel and robust microfluidic neuronal network system to quantitatively measure the pathological spread of αSyn between human neurons. This assay system will serve as a platform to test novel therapeutics targeted at preventing αSyn pathology and transmission.
Development of a microfluidic assay to study migration of cells essential for remyelination in MS lesions
Dr Felici, Dr Zagnoni
The aim of the project is to use microfluidic technology to generate a chemorepellent concentration gradient for monitoring OPC/microglia migration and develop an assay suitable for high throughput screening. Optimization of the assay will produce a robust method for identification of chemorepulsion inhibitors. Selected hits will represent potential candidates for regenerative therapy in Multiple Sclerosis.
Droplet-based Microfluidic Platform for Intracellular Ion Channel Drug Discovery
Dr Zhang, Dr Woolhead, Dr Zagnoni, Smartox, AstraZeneca
This project aims to produce and test a new microsystem technology to study human intracellular ion channels. Whilst developing this new technology in collaboration with our industrial partners, this study will investigate two proteins that are involved in cancer and neurodegeneration which currently have no known pharmacologically identified drug.
Improving cancer cell death using Raman spectroscopy and microfluidic technology
Mr Melnyk, Prof Graham, Dr Zagnoni
The aim of this project is to combine surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) with microfluidic technologies to produce a device capable of analysing specific cancer cells from tissue based on their vibrational fingerprint. This approach will aid understanding of fundamental biological coping strategies to eradicate cancer cells and could be implicated in drug treatments of cancer.
Feasibility study to use enhanced fluorescent imaging and microfluidic technology for high-throughput drug screening of patient derived tumour cell models
Dr Robertson, Dr Zagnoni, AMS Biotechnology (Europe) Ltd
The aim of this project is to apply novel microfluidic systems for the 3D culture of primary tumour cell models (http://www.amsbio.com/cancer-model-media-cell-line.aspx). By combining continuous bright-field phase contrast measurements of tumour spheroid response to drugs in microfluidics with fluorescent reporters of pH and metabolic activity, we will provide new sensing techniques to create high-throughput and low cost screening assays using 3D microtumours from patient-derived material, overcoming the current limitations for oncology drug discovery and development of personalised treatment.
3D micro-liver on a chip
Mr Claasen, Prof Grant, Dr Watson, Dr Zagnoni
The aim of this project is to develop a miniaturised technology to screen liver toxicity in vitro, using 3D hepatocyte structures. This is done using emulsion techniques that enable the long-term culture of primary liver cells to be obtained in 3D. Microfluidic procedures will be developed to create an in vitro model of liver tissue that mimics in vivo hepatic conditions and is able to predict formation of reactive intermediates from foreign compounds, e.g. candidate pharmaceuticals, which have the potential to cause toxicity in vivo.