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Automatic Single-Cell Transfer Module
• The rotary pump connected to the end of the “Y”-shaped channel
stops the flow.
• The syringe pump applies pressure to the right pneumatic valve
(infusion) while releasing the left valves (withdraw). In the experiments, the time elapsed during valve switching was measured at
approximately 3 seconds.
• The main flow direction is reversed.
• The rotary pump starts running again and transfers cells in the
batch to the microchannel on the left.
7.4 Discussion and Conclusion
The system presented here allows individual cells to be aspirated from a
container and transferred to other modules. The components, composed of
pumps and micromanipulators, were connected to a computer that automatically controlled all functions carried out in the microfluidic device.
The pneumatic pressure valves were successfully applied on the fluidic
chip. We demonstrated a potential application of this system, the automation of nuclear transplantation. We also demonstrated a potential application
of this system, the automation of nuclear transplantation by singly transporting fibroblasts and oocytes. Cell coupling for nuclear transplantation
can be automated by microfluidic devices. The detection method developed
for this study is a simple and robust technique well suited for microfluidic
systems. Experimental results showed that the synchronized camera modules together with this algorithm were able to handle the pumps and micromanipulators simultaneously. Data analyzed from the images were used to
control the motion of the particles in the channels. The performance of the
algorithm was tested with different parameters. It is capable of detecting different cell sizes, which also shows that the proposed system can be utilized
as a support system with various on-chip single-cell analysis methods.
This device is by no means a final system for nuclear transplantation. Its
efficiency may be increased by including automated cell fusion functions
within networks of microchannels. Future research will focus on improving
the algorithm and control, with the goal of executing simultaneous donor
and oocyte manipulation in different fluidic chips before fusing them in a
microfluidic chip.
References
Andrea, A. and Klavs, F. 2008. Microfluidic based single cell microinjection. Lab on a
Chip, 8: 1258–1261.
Automatic Single-Cell Transfer Module
• The rotary pump connected to the end of the “Y”-shaped channel
stops the flow.
• The syringe pump applies pressure to the right pneumatic valve
(infusion) while releasing the left valves (withdraw). In the experiments, the time elapsed during valve switching was measured at
approximately 3 seconds.
• The main flow direction is reversed.
• The rotary pump starts running again and transfers cells in the
batch to the microchannel on the left.
7.4 Discussion and Conclusion
The system presented here allows individual cells to be aspirated from a
container and transferred to other modules. The components, composed of
pumps and micromanipulators, were connected to a computer that automatically controlled all functions carried out in the microfluidic device.
The pneumatic pressure valves were successfully applied on the fluidic
chip. We demonstrated a potential application of this system, the automation of nuclear transplantation. We also demonstrated a potential application
of this system, the automation of nuclear transplantation by singly transporting fibroblasts and oocytes. Cell coupling for nuclear transplantation
can be automated by microfluidic devices. The detection method developed
for this study is a simple and robust technique well suited for microfluidic
systems. Experimental results showed that the synchronized camera modules together with this algorithm were able to handle the pumps and micromanipulators simultaneously. Data analyzed from the images were used to
control the motion of the particles in the channels. The performance of the
algorithm was tested with different parameters. It is capable of detecting different cell sizes, which also shows that the proposed system can be utilized
as a support system with various on-chip single-cell analysis methods.
This device is by no means a final system for nuclear transplantation. Its
efficiency may be increased by including automated cell fusion functions
within networks of microchannels. Future research will focus on improving
the algorithm and control, with the goal of executing simultaneous donor
and oocyte manipulation in different fluidic chips before fusing them in a
microfluidic chip.
References
Andrea, A. and Klavs, F. 2008. Microfluidic based single cell microinjection. Lab on a
Chip, 8: 1258–1261.