Quantifying the volume of single cells continuously using a microfluidic pressure-driven trap with media exchange

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Microfluidics
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Accurate measurement of individual cell volume is crucial for understanding cell growth dynamics.
• Existing methods for cell volume tracking can be labor-intensive or lack real-time capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and demonstrate a microfluidic device for precise, real-time tracking of individual cell volume.
• To integrate on-chip volume sensing with dynamic cell trapping for continuous monitoring.

Main Methods:

• A microfluidic device was engineered with an integrated on-chip volume sensor based on the Coulter principle.
• Pressure-activated sieve valves were utilized to create a dynamic trap for individual cells.
• Cells were periodically moved through the sensing channel for volume measurement and media exchange.

Main Results:

• The microfluidic device successfully tracked the volume of individual Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells throughout their entire growth cycles.
• The system demonstrated efficient and rapid media exchange capabilities while maintaining cell confinement.
• The integrated approach allowed for continuous, high-resolution cell volume data acquisition.

Conclusions:

• The developed microfluidic device offers a novel platform for high-throughput, real-time analysis of cell volume dynamics.
• This technology facilitates detailed studies of cell growth, division, and response to environmental changes.
• The device's capabilities are valuable for various applications in cell biology and biotechnology.