Glass lab-on-a-chip platform fabricated by picosecond laser for testing tumor cells exposed to X-ray radiation

Lab-on-a-chip strategies using miniaturized devices enable cells to be cultured in a tridimensional (3D) space that offers a real model mimicking in vivo environment. One may provide architectural configurations relevant for specific tissues to maintain them at adequate temperature, oxygen levels, and pH during the necessary time intervals for observation. Herein, we propose a miniaturized lab-on-chip glass device suitable for simultaneous dosimetry measurements and evaluation of the biological effects of ionizing radiation on cancer cells. For the 3D fabrication of biologically relevant microenvironment, high repetition rate picosecond laser-assisted etching is applied to create microfluidic networks between sealed cell culture chambers in photo-sensitive glasses (PG). To evaluate the radiation dose, we employed collimated X-ray beams to generate free electrons in the PG samples by photoreduction of Ag ions to Ag atoms. A subsequent thermal treatment applied to the PG induced clustering of precipitated Ag atoms to color the exposed area to brown, which allows us to directly evaluate a threshold of the applied X-ray radiation dose applied directly on chip. Based on our glass biochip, we tested the response of human melanoma cancer cells exposed to various X-ray doses. This lab-on-chip platform is a valuable tool to analyze and validate the cellular response to new irradiation strategies as alternatives to conventional radiotherapy methods.

Automated summary

Lab-on-a-chip strategies using miniaturized devices allow cells to be cultured in a 3D space that mimics in vivo environment. This study proposes a miniaturized lab-on-chip glass device for dosimetry measurements and evaluation of the biological effects of ionizing radiation on cancer cells. Microfluidic networks are created using high repetition rate picosecond laser-assisted etching in photo-sensitive glasses, and radiation dose is evaluated using collimated X-ray beams. This lab-on-chip platform provides a valuable tool for analyzing cellular response to new irradiation strategies.