Cyto-Mine: An Integrated, Picodroplet System for High-Throughput Single-Cell Analysis, Sorting, Dispensing, and...

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Cell Line Engineering
• Bioprocess Development

Background:

• Cell line development aims for high product yields from clonal cell lines within accelerated timelines.
• Detecting and isolating rare clonal cells with desired characteristics presents a significant bottleneck in bioprocess workflows.
• Traditional methods like limiting dilution cloning and semi-automated techniques (e.g., fluorescence-activated cell sorting) are resource-intensive.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel system, Cyto-Mine, for single-cell analysis and monoclonality assurance.
• To overcome the limitations of existing technologies in detecting and isolating rare, high-producing clonal cells.
• To enable faster, more robust, and safer cell line development.

Main Methods:

• The Cyto-Mine system screens hundreds of thousands of individual cells for secreted target proteins.
• It isolates and dispenses the highest producing cells into microtiter plate wells (MTP).
• The workflow is performed using a fully integrated, microfluidic Cyto-Cartridge with animal component-free (ACF) and sterile reagents.

Main Results:

• The Cyto-Mine system effectively screens a large number of single cells for secreted proteins.
• It successfully isolates and dispenses high-producing cells for downstream applications.
• The use of ACF and sterile reagents ensures a safe and efficient process.

Conclusions:

• The Cyto-Mine system offers a significant advancement in bioprocess cell line development by addressing the bottleneck of rare cell isolation.
• It enables rapid, robust, and safe isolation of desired cells, accelerating timelines from months to weeks.
• This technology facilitates high-throughput screening for cell line engineering workflows.