The BioFlux system is a game-changer in the world of experimental research. By employing a multiplexed array format, it revolutionizes the way flow cell experiments are conducted. Just picture this: a single 48-well plate has the potential to run an impressive 24 assays concurrently. And with the introduction of the Quattro add-on, a staggering 96 experiments can run in parallel. This substantial boost in data throughput means researchers can delve into more conditions, test hypotheses, and uncover drug pharmacology faster than ever before. But as we’ll learn in this case study, the real-world benefits go far beyond multiplexing.
Dr. Clemence Belleannée and her team at the University of Laval take advantage of BioFlux system’s contactless pumping to improve experimental throughput and data integrity
While the BioFlux system’s capacity for multiplexing experiments is widely celebrated, there’s an equally vital but less-discussed feature that significantly elevates both throughput and data integrity: “contactless” pumping. In this case study, we’ll delve into the concept behind contactless pumping, its crucial features, and its transformative impact in the laboratory of Dr. Clemence Belleannée at the Universite Laval in Quebec City, Canada who has been using BioFlux since 2015.
Overview
The unique technology of the BioFlux system has left an indelible mark on Dr. Belleannée’s research team at the University of Laval. Their work focuses on developing a reversible male contraceptive that preserves male fertility and additionally, explores novel therapeutic approaches to prostate cancer.
Challenges
The team sought a system that could investigate the function and response of shear stress without requiring fluid exchange, to reduce the likelihood of contamination.
Outcomes
Fluxion’s BioFlux system, with its gas-driven flow cell setup, met the team’s needs without necessitating fluid exchange. This has empowered their research in numerous ways.
Key Benefits (according to Dr. Belleannée)
Ditching the Drawbacks of Traditional Microfluidic Flow Cells
In traditional flow cell systems, even the microfluidic ones, fluid flow is typically managed by syringe pumps, peristaltic pumps, or similar direct-fluid-contact approaches. However, the BioFlux system takes things a step further with its pneumatic pressure-driven pumping mechanism.
The limitations of traditional liquid pumps in conjunction with microfluidic flow cells are glaring:
BioFlux Pneumatic Pumping: The Key to Precision, Multiplexing, and Speed
To address these issues, Fluxion introduced the innovative use of pneumatic pressure-driven flow within the BioFlux system. The system integrates an array of microfluidic flow cells into the base of a standard size plate, solving the “macro to micro interface” challenge inherent to many microfluidic devices. In its simplest form, a microfluidic flow cell comprises an inlet well and an outlet well connected by the microfluidic flow cell channel.
Pneumatic pumping-precision without liquid contact
Pneumatic tubing connects to the interface to deliver gas pressure to the microfluidic well plate. The controller delivers precise gas pressure based on the user-determined flow profile for the experiment.
Computational fluid dynamics is used to model flow in the microfluidic channels. The flow profiles are then validated experimentally. This image of the CFD-analyzed flow demonstrates the uniformity of the wall shear stress profile across the BioFlux 48-well low shear stress plate. The channel diameter is 350um- 5 human hairs.
The Unparalleled Benefits of BioFlux’s Pneumatic Pressure-Driven Pumping
Learn more about the BioFlux System and the difference it can make in your lab.
Dr. Anson Blanks completed his BS in exercise physiology at East Carolina University and his MS in clinical exercise science at Appalachian State University. After working as a clinical exercise physiologist in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, Dr. Blanks decided to pursue a career in scientific research. He attended Virginia Commonwealth University, where he completed his Ph.D. in Rehabilitation and Movement Science. After spending several years as a research and development scientist in biotechnology industry, Dr. Blanks is now a scientific marketing manager for Cell Microsystems in Durham, NC.
In the ongoing battle against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, or “superbugs,” scientists are constantly seeking innovative tools to understand the mechanisms of resistance and develop effective treatments. One such groundbreaking technology is shear flow systems, which have emerged as game-changers in microbiological research. By simulating the dynamic conditions of bacteria’s natural environments, such as the human body or food processing, shear flow systems provide unique insights into bacterial behavior and resistance mechanisms that traditional static methods simply cannot achieve. In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of using shear flow systems to combat antibiotic resistance and develop next-generation therapies.
Antibiotic resistance is a complex phenomenon influenced by a variety of factors, including genetic mutations, horizontal gene transfer, and the formation of biofilms. Traditional laboratory methods often fail to capture the dynamic nature of these processes, leading to incomplete or misleading results. Shear flow systems address this limitation by providing a more realistic environment for bacterial growth and interaction. Here’s how:
1. Mimicking Real-World Conditions
In the human body, bacteria are rarely in a static state. They are constantly exposed to fluid flow, such as blood circulation or urine flow, which influences their behavior and resistance mechanisms. Shear flow systems can replicate these conditions, allowing researchers to study how bacteria respond to antibiotics under realistic physiological conditions. This is critical for understanding how resistance develops and persists in vivo. This benefit was recently highlighted in a webinar presented by Dr. Katharina Richter, a microbiology researcher from the University of Adelaide in Australia. Using a high-throughput BioFlux Shear Flow System, Dr. Richter and her team were able to test 3 different methods of superbug treatments under physiological conditions.
2. Studying Biofilm Formation and Resistance
Biofilms—structured communities of bacteria encased in a protective matrix—are a major contributor to antibiotic resistance. Biofilms are notoriously difficult to treat because they shield bacteria from antibiotics and the immune system. Shear flow systems enable researchers to study biofilm formation in real time, observing how bacteria adhere to surfaces, form microcolonies, and develop resistance under flow conditions. For example, using a BioFlux, Dr. Richter was able to leverage high-resolution imaging to obtain unprecedented insight into the biofilm killing and prevention efficacy of a copper and diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) combination nanoparticles¹. The group is currently investigating the use of a Cu-DDC infused gel that can be injected into wounds that are at high risk for chronic infection, such as hernia.
The study of biofilm communities presents unique challenges in experimental design and analysis. While mixed bacterial populations offer fascinating insights into microbial interactions and community dynamics, accurately characterizing and investigating these complex systems has previously required sophisticated and tedious technical approaches. Here, we will discuss advances in technology that have helped to simplify and streamline polymicrobial investigations.
Throughout the last decade, a trend for growing and assaying biofilms under shear flow has gained traction among microbiologists. The rationale for investigating biofilms under flow is multi-dimensional. A recent Cell Microsystems survey asked why microbiologists are using shear flow found that the top responses were:
Of the scientists surveyed, 40% indicated that they use a BioFlux Shear Flow System. This system provides unique advantages over other methods to induce shear stress, such as slide-based parallel plate flow chambers and benchtop rockers.
BioFlux uses microfluidic channels embedded onto the bottom of standard-sized 6, 24, or 48-well plates to create isolated and independent flow chambers where user-defined wall shear stress is initiated and maintained by digitally controlled air pressure. This not only simplifies the setup and experimental processes but also ensures that experiments are contained and do not contaminate the shear flow system.
Although shear flow has been thoroughly demonstrated to improve the biological relevance of biofilm investigations1, an often overlooked aspect of biofilm physiology is the significant role that multicellular aggregates play in biofilm formation2. When investigating Pseudomonas aeruginosa, it has been demonstrated that multicellular aggregates lead to faster biofilm formation and enhanced resistance to antimicrobials and immune responses3. In addition, multispecies microbial aggregates have been shown to dominate single cells in human saliva4. Together, these data show that aggregates are important areas of investigation because they are more likely to represent physiological biofilm formation and growth.
