title: Automated micropipette aspiration of single cells.
abstract: This paper presents a system for mechanically characterizing single cells using automated micropipette aspiration. Using vision-based control and position control, the system controls a micromanipulator, a motorized translation stage, and a custom-built pressure system to position a micropipette (4 μm opening) to approach a cell, form a seal, and aspirate the cell into the micropipette for quantifying the cell's elastic and viscoelastic parameters as well as viscosity. Image processing algorithms were developed to provide controllers with real-time visual feedback and to accurately measure cell deformation behavior on line. Experiments on both solid-like and liquid-like cells demonstrated that the system is capable of efficiently performing single-cell micropipette aspiration and has low operator skill requirements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. ehsan@mie.utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Ehsan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shojaei-Baghini
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000166:cytology; D001331:Automation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004548:Elasticity; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008846:Micromanipulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011312:Pressure; D013396:Suction / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D013552:Swine; D014783:Viscosity