Cell characterization using a protein-functionalized pore.
We demonstrate a highly-sensitive and label-free method for characterizing cells based on cell-surface receptors. The method involves measuring a current pulse generated when an individual cell passes through an artificial pore. When the pore is functionalized with proteins, specific interactions between a cell-surface marker and the functionalized proteins retard the cell, thus leading to an increased pulse duration that indicates the presence of that specific biomarker. For proof-of-principle, we successfully screened murine erythroleukemia cells based on their CD34 surface marker in both a single and mixed population of cells. Further, we developed a unified constrained statistical model for estimating the ratios of cells in a mixed population. Finally, we demonstrated our ability to screen a small number of cells (hundreds or less) with high accuracy and sensitivity. Overall, our pore-based method is broadly applicable and, in the future, could provide a full range of in vitro cell-based assays.
Carbonaro
Andrea
A
Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-1740, USA.
Mohanty
Swomitra K
SK
Huang
Haiyan
H
Godley
Lucy A
LA
Sohn
Lydia L
LL
D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004915:Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D015394:Molecular Structure; D016062:Porosity; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D011506:Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface