This work evaluates the efficiency of a multi-purpose, microfluidic single-cell trapping device for physical or biochemical screening of stem cell populations for tissue culture and algal cells for biofuel production. Our results indicate the necessary alterations to the device design that array high densities of individually isolated adherent cells from a culture at high speeds. Previous platforms were designed for nonadherent populations and not evaluated for their high-throughput efficiency. Furthermore, numerical simulation of the microenvironmental stress on the cells in the trap revealed a range of operating velocities and cell capture configurations to maximize cell viability. In conclusion, these devices must be designed based on cell properties, not solely on optimized hydrodynamics. Also, the trap size to cell size ratio is a major factor in trapping single cells efficiently at high speeds.

Microfluidic-based microarrays for rapid, efficient single-cell capture of mammalian stem cells and algal cells

245th National Meeting (2013)

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