Microplatform for intercellular communication

A microplatform was designed, fabricated, and tested for demonstrating the propagation of molecular signals through a line of patterned HeLa cells expressing gap junction channels (HeLa Cx43 cells). The microplatform was capable of patterning cells onto a predefined design with lithography and surface chemical treatment. Lucifer Yellow was first used as a fluorescent marker to demonstrate the formation of functional gap junction channels between patterned HeLa Cx43 cells. The cells at one end of the cell line were next chemically stimulated to induce the propagation of intercellular calcium waves along the cell line, which was successfully monitored with Fluo4. The designed microplatform allowed intercellular communication over an arbitrary network topology of cells, which may provide new insight into mechanisms of intercellular communication.