Flow cytometry without alignment of collection optics.
This study describes the performance of a new waveguide flow cell constructed from Teflon AF (TFC) and the potential use of fiber optic splitters to replace collection objectives and dichroic mirrors. The TFC has the unique optical property that the refractive index of the polymer is lower than water and therefore, water filled TFC behaves and functions as a liquid core waveguide. Thus, as cells flow through the TFC and are illuminated by a laser orthogonal to the flow direction, scattered and fluorescent light is directed down the axis of the TFC to a fiber optic. The total signal in the fiber optic is then split into multiple fibers by fiber optic splitters to enable measurement of signal intensities at different wavelengths. Optical filters are placed at the terminus of each fiber before measurement of specific wavelengths by a PMT. The constructed system was used to measure DNA content of CHO and yeast cells. Polystyrene beads were used for alignment and to assess the performance of the system. Polystyrene beads were observed to produce light scattering signals with unique bimodal characteristics dependent on the direction of flow relative to the collecting fiber optic.
Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455-0312, USA.
Greg
G
Sitton
Friedrich
F
Srienc
D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D002453:Cell Cycle; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D005453:Fluorescence; D008863:Microspheres; D055100:Optical Fibers; D055620:Optical Phenomena; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene / Q000737:chemistry; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000166:cytology; D012542:Scattering, Radiation
D011137:Polystyrenes; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene