Issue 16, 2012

Automated analysis of single stem cells in microfluidic traps

Abstract

We report a reliable strategy to perform automated image cytometry of single (non-adherent) stem cells captured in microfluidic traps. The method rapidly segments images of an entire microfluidic chip based on the detection of horizontal edges of microfluidic channels, from where the position of the trapped cells can be derived and the trapped cells identified with very high precision (>97%). We used this method to successfully quantify the efficiency and spatial distribution of single-cell loading of a microfluidic chip comprised of 2048 single-cell traps. Furthermore, cytometric analysis of trapped primary hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) faithfully recapitulated the distribution of cells in the G1 and S/G2-M phase of the cell cycle that was measured by flow cytometry. This approach should be applicable to automatically track single live cells in a wealth of microfluidic systems.

Graphical abstract: Automated analysis of single stem cells in microfluidic traps

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
02 Apr 2012
Accepted
19 Apr 2012
First published
31 May 2012

Lab Chip, 2012,12, 2843-2849

Automated analysis of single stem cells in microfluidic traps

S. A. Kobel, O. Burri, A. Griffa, M. Girotra, A. Seitz and M. P. Lutolf, Lab Chip, 2012, 12, 2843 DOI: 10.1039/C2LC40317J

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