In biological research and clinical diagnostics, the purification of desired kind of cells from a crude sample mixture is the first and important step for precision analysis. These results showed that the novel imaging flow cytometry system is practically applicable for biological research and clinical diagnostics. The whole operation of sample handling was automated using 3D micropipetting system. Separated cells could be cultured on the microfluidic chip without contamination. Sample of 5 μL with 1 × 10 6 particle/mL was processed within 40 min. Cells in suspension with fluorescent dye were separated using the same kind of microfluidic chip. Desired cells were separated automatically from other cells by electrophoretic or dielectrophoretic force one by one with a separation efficiency of 90%. Sample particles flowing through microchannels on the chip were discriminated by an image-recognition unit with a high-speed camera in real time at the rate of 200 event/s, e.g., microparticles 2.5 μm and 3.0 μm in diameter were differentiated with an error rate of less than 2%. The transparency and low-fluorescence of PMMA was suitable for microscopic imaging of cells flowing through microchannels on the chip.
The system was contamination-free, because sample suspensions contacted only with a flammable PMMA chip and no other component of the system.
We have developed a novel imaging cytometry system using a poly(methyl methacrylate (PMMA)) based microfluidic chip.
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