Work

Measuring cell mechanics by optical alignment compression cytometry

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: To address the need for a high throughput, non-destructive technique for measuring individual cell mechanical properties, we have developed optical alignment compression (OAC) cytometry. OAC combines hydrodynamic drag in an extensional flow microfluidic device with optical forces created with an inexpensive diode laser to induce measurable deformations between compressed cells. In this, a low-intensity linear optical trap aligns incoming cells with the flow stagnation point allowing hydrodynamic drag to induce deformation during cell-cell interaction. With this novel approach, we measure cell mechanical properties with a throughput that improves significantly on current non-destructive individual cell testing methods.

Source: Lab on a Chip

DOI: 10.1039/c3lc41253a

Authors: Kevin B. Roth, Charles D. Eggleton, Keith B. Neeves, David W. M. Marr

Institutions: Colorado School of Mines, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, University of Colorado Denver

Language: English

Topic: Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies

Subfield: Biomedical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Awards: High-Throughput Cell Mechanical Property Testing for Label-Free Assaying, Computational model of cellular adhesion in bulk flows