Single-cell trapping and selective treatment via co-flow within a microfluidic platform

• Published in: Biosensors & bioelectronics 2014-11, Vol.61, p.298-305
• Main Authors: Benavente-Babace, A., Gallego-Pérez, D., Hansford, D.J., Arana, S., Pérez-Lorenzo, E., Mujika, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Biosensing Techniques - instrumentation; Biosensors; Biotechnology; Cell Line; Cell-based biosensor; Devices; Equipment Design; Ethanol; Ethanol - toxicity; Ethyl alcohol; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hepatocytes - cytology; Hepatocytes - drug effects; Laminar co-flow; Laminar flow; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Mice; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques - instrumentation; Microfluidic chip; Microfluidics; Platforms; Single-cell analysis; Single-Cell Analysis - instrumentation; Toxicity assay; Toxicity Tests - instrumentation; Trapping; Various methods and equipments
• ISSN: 0956-5663; 1873-4235
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2014.05.036

Lab on a chip (LOC) systems provide interesting and low-cost solutions for key studies and applications in the biomedical field. Along with microfluidics, these microdevices make single-cell manipulation possible with high spatial and temporal resolution. In this work we have designed, fabricated and characterized a versatile and inexpensive microfluidic platform for on-chip selective single-cell trapping and treatment using laminar co-flow. The combination of co-existing laminar flow manipulation and hydrodynamic single-cell trapping for selective treatment offers a cost-effective solution for studying the effect of novel drugs on single-cells. The operation of the whole system is experimentally simple, highly adaptable and requires no specific equipment. As a proof of concept, a cytotoxicity study of ethanol in isolated hepatocytes is presented. The developed microfluidic platform controlled by means of co-flow is an attractive and multipurpose solution for the study of new substances of high interest in cell biology research. In addition, this platform will pave the way for the study of cell behavior under dynamic and controllable fluidic conditions providing information at the individual cell level. Thus, this analysis device could also hold a great potential to easily use the trapped cells as sensing elements expanding its functionalities as a cell-based biosensor with single-cell resolution. •Laminar co-flow based microdevice allows selective treating of single-cells.•Calibration curves for easily controlling the selective on-chip manipulation of single-cells.•Cytotoxicity study of ethanol in isolated hepatocytes is presented.•Potential tool for performing versatile tests for drug discovery and cell therapy.•The whole system may open new strategies for cell-based biosensors with single-cell resolution.