Lecture Notes on Tissue and Cell Culture Techniques

Introduction to Module

• Focus on tissue and cell culture techniques for cancer diagnosis.
• Understanding cancer: group of cells dividing unevenly.
• Importance of cell culture in studying cancer progression.

Key Terms

• In Vivo Techniques: Studying cells in a living organism.
• Ex Vivo Techniques: Studying cells outside of their original environment but in a controlled setting.
• In Vitro Techniques: Laboratory-based studies of cells in artificial conditions.

Importance of Integration

• Combination of engineering, biology, and medicine is essential.
  • Cell Engineering: Creating and manipulating cells for research and application.
  • Bioreactors: Devices that support a biologically active environment.
  • Therapeutics and Diagnostics: Designing systems to diagnose and treat cancer.

Historical Background

• Robert Hooke (1665): First observed cells using a microscope; named cells after monk cells.
• Cell Theory (1839): Theodor Schwann concluded all animals are made of cells.
• Observation of Cell Division (1855): Rudolf Virchow noted that all cells come from pre-existing cells.

Cell Structure

• Key cell components: Microfilaments, centrioles, nucleus, ribosomes, lysosomes, Golgi apparatus, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria.
• Nuclear Staining: Using markers like DAPI to identify and differentiate cells from debris.

Chemical Composition and Conductivity

• Cell lysis releases conductive chemicals; increased conductivity indicates cell death.
• Drug Efficacy Testing: Designing sensors to measure conductivity changes to evaluate drug effectiveness during screening.
  • Importance of impedance measurements due to double layer capacitance.

Drug Delivery Mechanisms

• Influx and Efflux: Time drugs stay in cells affects treatment efficacy.
• Nanoparticle Loaded Drugs: Encapsulating drugs in lipid nanoparticles to improve drug retention within cells, especially for brain cancer treatment.

Conclusion and Next Steps

• Understanding cell theory, structure, and mineral properties is crucial for effective cancer diagnosis and treatment.
• In the next module, focus on cell culture techniques and equipment used for cell culture.