Chip identifies cells by their electrical signature, then separates them with a precisely aimed sound wave
In biomedicine, sorting cells accurately without damaging them remains a persistent problem. Current methods, like fluorescence-activated cell sorting, rely on labeling the cells extrinsically, which can stress the cells, alter their behavior and even interfere with the assay. A collaborative study between researchers in Singapore and China has now developed a noninvasive, label-free method to…
Researchers in Singapore and China have developed a label-free cell-sorting system that identifies cells by their electrical signature and then separates them using a precisely directed sound wave. The system consists of three components: a viscoelastic fluid that aligns cells in a single file, electrodes that apply weak alternating signals to each cell and record changes in their electrical behavior, and a focused acoustic wave generator that nudges a chosen cell sideways towards a collection outlet.
By sorting cells based on a subtle functional electrical signature, the platform can differentiate cells even when they have identical structural characteristics, such as red blood cells engineered with light-sensitive proteins. While the system achieved a purity of 85.4% in sorting structurally similar cells with different functional electrical states, researchers aim to improve signal quality and processing to further enhance classification accuracy.
The technology has potential applications in drug-screening workflows, where researchers can enrich living cells that respond differently to treatments affecting membrane function, as well as clinical applications, such as flagging disease-associated changes in blood cells.
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