Human mammalian cell sorting using a highly integrated micro-fabricated fluorescence-activated cell sorter (microFACS).
We demonstrate a high performance microfabricated FACS system with highly integrated microfluidics, optics, acoustics, and electronics. Single cell manipulation at a high speed is made possible by the fast response time (approximately 0.1 ms) of the integrated PZT actuator and the nozzle structure at the sorting junction. A Teflon AF-coated optofluidic waveguide along the microfluidic channel guides the illumination light, enabling multi-spot detection, while a novel space-time coding technology enhances the detection sensitivity of the microFACS system. The real-time control loop system is implemented using a field-programmable-gate-array (FPGA) for automated and accurate sorting. The microFACS achieves a high purification enrichment factor: up to approximately 230 fold for both polystyrene microbeads and suspended human mammalian cells (K562) at a high throughput (>1000 cells s(-1)). The sorting mechanism is independent of cell properties such as size, density, and shape, thus the presented system can be applied to sort out any pure sub-populations. This new lab-on-a-chip FACS system, therefore, holds promise to revolutionize microfluidic cytometers to meet cost, size, and performance goals.
Cho
Sung Hwan
SH
Materials Science Engineering Program, 9500 Gilman Drive, Jacobs School of Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA. scho@logroup.ucsd.edu
Chen
Chun H
CH
Tsai
Frank S
FS
Godin
Jessica M
JM
Lo
Yu-Hwa
YH
D002469:Cell Separation / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020014:K562 Cells; D008863:Microspheres; D055616:Microtechnology / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors