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Separating Beads and Cells in Multi-channel Microfluidic Devices Using Dielectrophoresis and Laminar Flow
Published on: February 4, 2011
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Stiffness dependent separation of cells in a microfluidic device
Gonghao Wang1, Wenbin Mao, Rebecca Byler
1Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.
Plos One
|October 23, 2013
Summary
This study introduces a novel microfluidic technique for continuous cell separation based on mechanical stiffness variations. This method enables rapid, low-cost cell analysis and disease diagnostics using biophysical markers.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
- Microfluidics
Background:
- Abnormal cell mechanical stiffness is linked to diseases like cancer and infections.
- Accurate cell stiffness measurement is crucial for disease diagnostics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a new microfluidic technique for continuous cell separation based on mechanical stiffness.
- To demonstrate the effectiveness of this technique for sorting cells with varying stiffness.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a microfluidic channel with periodic diagonal ridges to compress flowing cells.
- Analyzed cell displacement perpendicular to the channel axis, correlating it with stiffness.
- Employed atomic force microscopy to validate cell stiffness measurements.
Main Results:
- Successfully separated cell types with similar sizes but different stiffnesses (210 Pa to 23 kPa).
- Demonstrated a correlation between cell trajectories in the microchannel and their measured stiffness.
- Achieved a processing throughput of 250 cells per second.
Conclusions:
- The developed microfluidic technique offers a novel approach for cell stiffness-based separation.
- This method provides a foundation for rapid, low-cost cell analysis and disease diagnostics.
- Biophysical markers, such as cell stiffness, can be effectively utilized for diagnostic purposes.
