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Fast-lysis cell traps for chemical cytometry.
Paul J Marc1, Christopher E Sims, Mark Bachman
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, USA.
Lab on a Chip
|April 25, 2008
Summary
This study presents electrically addressable cell traps integrated with capillary electrophoresis for single adherent cell analysis. This method allows rapid cell lysis and content analysis, enhancing understanding of cellular physiology.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Analytical Chemistry
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Analyzing the contents of single adherent cells is crucial for understanding cellular physiology.
- Existing methods for single-cell analysis can be time-consuming and complex.
- Developing rapid and efficient methods for single-cell content analysis is an ongoing challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel system for the analysis of single adherent cell contents.
- To integrate electrically addressable cell traps with capillary electrophoresis for high-throughput analysis.
- To demonstrate the capability of the system for rapid cell lysis and electrophoretic separation of intracellular components.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes on glass surfaces.
- Creation of topographical cell traps using 1002F photoresist.
- Electrical lysis of single trapped cells using applied electric fields.
- Integration of cell traps with capillary electrophoresis for content analysis.
- Electrophoretic separation and detection of intracellular molecules (fluorescein and Oregon Green).
Main Results:
- Single adherent cells were successfully trapped and lysed in under 66 milliseconds.
- Gas generated during lysis was localized, preventing capillary blockage.
- Intracellular contents (fluorescein and Oregon Green) were loaded into the capillary electrophoresis system.
- Complete electrophoretic resolution of fluorescein and Oregon Green from single cells was achieved in under two minutes.
- The fabricated cell trap design was robust and easily scalable for serial or parallel analyses.
Conclusions:
- The integration of electrically addressable cell traps with capillary electrophoresis provides a robust and efficient platform for single adherent cell analysis.
- This method enables rapid lysis and high-resolution separation of intracellular components, facilitating deeper insights into cellular physiology.
- The scalable design holds significant potential for advancing high-throughput single-cell analysis in various research applications.
