title: A novel pneumatic micropipette aspiration method using a balance pressure model.
abstract: This paper presents a novel micropipette aspiration (MA) method based on a common pneumatic micro-injection system. This method is the first to quantify the influence of capillary effect on aspiration pressure using a balance pressure model, and in return, uses the capillary effect to quantify the aspiration pressure. Subsequently, the seal between the cell and the micropipette is detected to judge and exclude the ineffective MA attempts. The rationality of the balance pressure model is validated by the designed micropipette-filling experiments. Through applied to elasticity-determination of the cells with different sizes, the feasibility and versatility of this MA method are proved. With abilities to quantify aspiration pressures and detect the seam between the cell and the micropipette, our method is expected to advance the application of the commercial pneumatic injector in the MA of cells. Moreover, with the quantified volume of the liquid entering into the micropipette during MA process, our method also has a potential applicability to the study of the permeability of the cell membrane in the future.
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
authors.forename: Qili
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Life Science, Nankai University, 300071 Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Institute of Animal Science, 300312 Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Maosheng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
authors.forename: Yanding
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
authors.forename: Mingzhu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Life Science, Nankai University, 300071 Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Xizeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D011312:Pressure; D051381:Rats; D013396:Suction / Q000295:instrumentation*