title: A simple microfluidic method to select, isolate, and manipulate single-cells in mechanical and biochemical assays.
abstract: This article describes a simple and low-tech microfluidic method for single-cell experimentation, which permits cell selection without stress, cell manipulation with fine control, and passive self-exclusion of all undesired super-micronic particles. The method requires only conventional soft lithography microfabrication techniques and is applicable to any microfluidic single-cell circuitry. The principle relies on a bypass plugged in parallel with a single-cell assay device and collecting 97% of the flow rate. Cell selection into the single cell device is performed by moving the cell of interest back and forth in the vicinity of the junction between the bypass and the analysis circuitry. Cell navigation is finely controlled by hydrostatic pressure via centimetre-scale actuation of external macroscopic reservoirs connected to the device. We provide successful examples of biomechanical and biochemical assays on living human leukocytes passing through 4 mum wide capillaries. The blebbing process dynamics are monitored by conventional 24 fps videomicroscopy and subcellular cytoskeleton organization is imaged by on-chip immunostaining.
authors.affiliation: Université de Mons, Laboratoire Interfaces & Fluides Complexes, Centre d'Innovation et de Recherche en Matériaux (CIRMAP), 20, Place du Parc, B-7000 Mons, Belgique.
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gabriele
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Versaevel
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Preira
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Théodoly
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay / Q000295:instrumentation*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D055617:Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008846:Micromanipulation / Q000295:instrumentation*