Automated cell viability assessment using a microfluidics based portable imaging flow analyzer

Abstract

In this work, we report a system-level integration of portable microscopy and microfluidics for the realization of optofluidic imaging flow analyzer with a throughput of 450 cells/s. With the use of a cellphone augmented with off-the-shelf optical components and custom designed microfluidics, we demonstrate a portable optofluidic imaging flow analyzer. A multiple microfluidic channel geometry was employed to demonstrate the enhancement of throughput in the context of low frame-rate imaging systems. Using the cell-phone based digital imaging flow analyzer, we have imaged yeast cells present in a suspension. By digitally processing the recorded videos of the flow stream on the cellphone, we demonstrated an automated cell viability assessment of the yeast cell population. In addition, we also demonstrate the suitability of the system for blood cell counting.

Optical Imaging Approaches to Monitor Static and Dynamic Cell‐on‐Chip Platforms: A Tutorial Review

“…Images can be analyzed using image processing programs . Jagannadh et al reported a portable version of the device for multichannel imaging (Figure f) …”

“…f) Multiple field of view imaging of blood cell using a cellphone based imaging flow analyzer. Reproduced with permission . Copyright 2015, American Institute of Physics.…”

“…[111] Jagannadh et al reported a portable version of the device for multichannel imaging (Figure 25f). [112] Serial Time-Encoded Amplified Microscopy (STEAM): In camera-based techniques, there is a restriction on the maxi mum frame rate. For example, imaging of a moving object at the velocity of 1 m s −1 with the resolution of 1 µm, requires…”

“…Reproduced with permission. [112] Copyright 2015, American Institute of Physics. g) STEAM image of a white blood cell flowing at the speed of 4 m s −1 .…”

A review of cellphone microscopy for disease detection

“…They also suggested that instead of a 3.2-MP (2048 × 1536 pixel) cellphone camera used in their experiments, a camera with 4-8 MP would capture the entire FOV with maximum resolution; cellphone cameras have since reached and surpassed this level of resolution. A similar system has been built for microfluidic imaging of red blood cells (Jagannadh et al, 2015). This cellphone microscopy system comprised a custom-built attachment for the cellphone, housing a microfluidic device, an eye-piece with 10× magnification and a 40× objective with 0.65 NA.…”