Microfluidic Chip for Cell Fusion and In Situ Separation of Fused Cells.

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Microfluidics
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Electrofusion is a key technique for creating hybrid cells, with applications in medicine and research.
• Current methods using microfluidic devices for cell electrofusion face limitations in purification and isolation of fused cells.
• Existing techniques often require expensive instrumentation and complex operational procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an integrated microfluidic chip for efficient cell electrofusion and precise separation of fused cells.
• To overcome the limitations of expensive instruments and complex operations in current cell fusion and isolation methods.
• To demonstrate the feasibility of a single-chip solution for the entire cell electrofusion process, from capture to separation.

Main Methods:

• Optimization of microstructures and electrodes within a microfluidic device.
• Integration of buffer substitution for enhanced electrofusion and separation.
• Utilizing negative dielectrophoresis for targeted cell separation via strategic microelectrode activation.

Main Results:

• Achieved a cell electrofusion efficiency of 80.2 ± 7.5%.
• Demonstrated precise separation of fused cells with an efficiency of up to 91.1 ± 5.1%.
• Maintained high cell survival rates post-electrofusion (94.7 ± 0.6%) and release (91.7 ± 1.2%).

Conclusions:

• The developed microfluidic chip enables efficient, in situ cell electrofusion and separation on a single platform.
• The process does not negatively impact cell activity, ensuring high cell viability.
• This technology provides a foundation for precise single-cell analysis and has potential applications in various fields.