Low-Cost Method and Biochip for Measuring the Trans-Epithelial Electrical Resistance (TEER) of Esophageal Epithelium
Trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) is a good indicator of the barrier integrity of epithelial tissues and is often employed in biomedical research as an effective tool to assess ion transport and permeability of tight junctions. The Ussing chamber is the gold standard for measuring TEER o...
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MDPI AG
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Materials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/10/2354 |
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| author | Daniel Puiu Poenar Guang Yang Wei Keat Wan Shilun Feng |
| author_facet | Daniel Puiu Poenar Guang Yang Wei Keat Wan Shilun Feng |
| author_sort | Daniel Puiu Poenar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) is a good indicator of the barrier integrity of epithelial tissues and is often employed in biomedical research as an effective tool to assess ion transport and permeability of tight junctions. The Ussing chamber is the gold standard for measuring TEER of tissue specimens, but it has major drawbacks: it is a macroscopic method that requires a careful and labor intensive sample mounting protocol, allows a very limited viability for the mounted sample, has large parasitic components and low throughput as it cannot perform multiple simultaneous measurements, and this sophisticated and delicate apparatus has a relatively high cost. This paper demonstrates a low-cost home-made “sandwich ring” method which was used to measure the TEER of tissue specimens effectively. This method inspired the subsequent design of a biochip fabricated using standard soft lithography and laser engraving technologies, with which the TEER of pig epithelial tissues was measured. Moreover, it was possible to temporarily preserve the tissue specimens for days in the biochip and monitor the TEER continuously. Tissue responses after exposure tests to media of various pH values were also successfully recorded using the biochip. All these demonstrate that this biochip could be an effective, cheaper, and easier to use Ussing chamber substitute that may have relevant applications in clinical practice. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:42:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-18f2010ba26846f8a892de89451d5798 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1944 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:42:29Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Materials |
| spelling | doaj.art-18f2010ba26846f8a892de89451d57982023-11-20T01:07:39ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442020-05-011310235410.3390/ma13102354Low-Cost Method and Biochip for Measuring the Trans-Epithelial Electrical Resistance (TEER) of Esophageal EpitheliumDaniel Puiu Poenar0Guang Yang1Wei Keat Wan2Shilun Feng3VALENS-Centre for Bio Devices and Signal Analysis, EEE School, Nanyang Technological University, Blk S1, Level B4, Unit 06 (S1-B4b-06), 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, SingaporeVALENS-Centre for Bio Devices and Signal Analysis, EEE School, Nanyang Technological University, Blk S1, Level B4, Unit 06 (S1-B4b-06), 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, SingaporeHistopathology Department, Singapore General Hospital (SGH), 20 College Road, Academia, Level 10, Diagnostic Tower, Singapore 169856, SingaporeVALENS-Centre for Bio Devices and Signal Analysis, EEE School, Nanyang Technological University, Blk S1, Level B4, Unit 06 (S1-B4b-06), 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, SingaporeTrans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) is a good indicator of the barrier integrity of epithelial tissues and is often employed in biomedical research as an effective tool to assess ion transport and permeability of tight junctions. The Ussing chamber is the gold standard for measuring TEER of tissue specimens, but it has major drawbacks: it is a macroscopic method that requires a careful and labor intensive sample mounting protocol, allows a very limited viability for the mounted sample, has large parasitic components and low throughput as it cannot perform multiple simultaneous measurements, and this sophisticated and delicate apparatus has a relatively high cost. This paper demonstrates a low-cost home-made “sandwich ring” method which was used to measure the TEER of tissue specimens effectively. This method inspired the subsequent design of a biochip fabricated using standard soft lithography and laser engraving technologies, with which the TEER of pig epithelial tissues was measured. Moreover, it was possible to temporarily preserve the tissue specimens for days in the biochip and monitor the TEER continuously. Tissue responses after exposure tests to media of various pH values were also successfully recorded using the biochip. All these demonstrate that this biochip could be an effective, cheaper, and easier to use Ussing chamber substitute that may have relevant applications in clinical practice.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/10/2354TEER measurementtissue biochiptissue viabilityesophageal epithelial integrityLab-on-a-ChipUssing chamber |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Puiu Poenar Guang Yang Wei Keat Wan Shilun Feng Low-Cost Method and Biochip for Measuring the Trans-Epithelial Electrical Resistance (TEER) of Esophageal Epithelium Materials TEER measurement tissue biochip tissue viability esophageal epithelial integrity Lab-on-a-Chip Ussing chamber |
| title | Low-Cost Method and Biochip for Measuring the Trans-Epithelial Electrical Resistance (TEER) of Esophageal Epithelium |
| title_full | Low-Cost Method and Biochip for Measuring the Trans-Epithelial Electrical Resistance (TEER) of Esophageal Epithelium |
| title_fullStr | Low-Cost Method and Biochip for Measuring the Trans-Epithelial Electrical Resistance (TEER) of Esophageal Epithelium |
| title_full_unstemmed | Low-Cost Method and Biochip for Measuring the Trans-Epithelial Electrical Resistance (TEER) of Esophageal Epithelium |
| title_short | Low-Cost Method and Biochip for Measuring the Trans-Epithelial Electrical Resistance (TEER) of Esophageal Epithelium |
| title_sort | low cost method and biochip for measuring the trans epithelial electrical resistance teer of esophageal epithelium |
| topic | TEER measurement tissue biochip tissue viability esophageal epithelial integrity Lab-on-a-Chip Ussing chamber |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/10/2354 |
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