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A Microfluidic Technique to Probe Cell Deformability
Published on: September 3, 2014
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Deformability-induced lift force in spiral microchannels for cell separation
Ewa Guzniczak1, Oliver Otto2, Graeme Whyte1
1Heriot-Watt University, School of Engineering and Physical Science, Department of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering Edinburgh Campus, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, Scotland, UK. eg100@hw.ac.uk.
Lab on a Chip
|January 10, 2020
Summary
Researchers discovered a new force, deformability-induced lift (FD), enabling spiral microchannels to sort cells by deformability, not just size. This label-free method enhances cell separation for diagnostics and biotechnology.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering
- Cell Biology and Biophysics
- Microfluidics and Lab-on-a-Chip Technologies
Background:
- Cell sorting is vital in biology, medicine, and biotechnology, with increasing interest in label-free methods using intrinsic cell properties like size and deformability.
- Inertial focusing in spiral microchannels is a promising high-throughput technique for cell sorting, primarily separating particles based on size due to fluid dynamics.
- The inherent deformability of cells complicates their precise ordering and separation within microfluidic channels, limiting existing label-free methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and investigate a novel force influencing cell behavior in spiral microchannels.
- To demonstrate the capability of spiral microchannels to separate cells based on deformability, in addition to size.
- To develop a label-free microfluidic strategy for cell purification based on deformability.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a cellular deformability model where cell deformability was modulated using chemical treatments.
- Investigated the cell focusing mechanism within spiral microchannels, identifying the deformability-induced lift force (FD).
- Coupled the effect of FD with inertial focusing for a novel cell purification strategy.
Main Results:
- Identified and characterized the deformability-induced lift force (FD) as a key factor in cell ordering within spiral microchannels.
- Demonstrated that spiral microchannels can effectively separate cells of identical size but differing deformability.
- Achieved high-purity, high-efficiency cell separation at a large scale (millions of cells/min) without compromising cell viability.
Conclusions:
- The deformability-induced lift force (FD) is a significant factor in microfluidic cell sorting, enabling separation beyond size-based mechanisms.
- This study presents a unique, label-free microfluidic approach for deformability-based cell purification, expanding the utility of spiral microchannels.
- The developed method offers a scalable, efficient, and cell-friendly solution for cell processing in diagnostics and biotechnology.
