Work

Cell handling using microstructured membranes

Year: 2006

Type: article

Abstract: Gentle and precise handling of cell suspensions is essential for scientific research and clinical diagnostic applications. Although different techniques for cell analysis at the micro-scale have been proposed, many still require that preliminary sample preparation steps be performed off the chip. Here we present a microstructured membrane as a new microfluidic design concept, enabling the implementation of common sample preparation procedures for suspensions of eukaryotic cells in lab-on-a-chip devices. We demonstrate the novel capabilities for sample preparation procedures by the implementation of metered sampling of nanoliter volumes of whole blood, concentration increase up to three orders of magnitude of sparse cell suspension, and circumferentially uniform, sequential exposure of cells to reagents. We implemented these functions by using microstructured membranes that are pneumatically actuated and allowed to reversibly decouple the flow of fluids and the displacement of eukaryotic cells in suspensions. Furthermore, by integrating multiple structures on the same membrane, complex sequential procedures are possible using a limited number of control steps.

Source: Lab on a Chip

DOI: 10.1039/b515983k

Authors: Daniel Irimia, Mehmet Toner

Institutions: Harvard University, Massachusetts General Hospital, Shriners Hospitals for Children - Boston

Language: English

Topic: Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies

Subfield: Biomedical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering

Award: Bio-MicroElectroMechanical Systems (BioMEMS) Resource Center