New advances in microfluidic flow cytometry

Abstract

In recent years, researchers are paying the increasing attention to the development of portable microfluidic diagnostic devices including microfluidic flow cytometry for the point‐of‐care testing. Microfluidic flow cytometry, where microfluidics and flow cytometry work together to realize novel functionalities on the microchip, provides a powerful tool for measuring the multiple characteristics of biological samples. The development of a portable, low‐cost, and compact flow cytometer can benefit the health care in underserved areas such as Africa or Asia. In this article, we review recent advancements of microfluidics including sample pumping, focusing and sorting, novel detection approaches, and data analysis in the field of flow cytometry. The challenge of microfluidic flow cytometry is also examined briefly.

Is It Time to Start Transitioning From 2D to 3D Cell Culture?

“…Flow cytometry is a common technique used for 2D cell cultures to count cells, detect microorganisms, sort cells, detect biomarkers, detect protein engineering, and determine cell characteristics and functions (Picot et al, 2012). Flow cytometry has been used on 3D spheroids but requires the dissociation of the spheroids into a single-cell suspension via an enzyme such as trypsin and mechanical disruption (Gong et al, 2019). Because the spheroids must be broken up into a single-cell suspension, it ultimately becomes an endpoint assay as the cells are disposed following the completion of flow cytometry (Gong et al, 2019).…”

“…Flow cytometry has been used on 3D spheroids but requires the dissociation of the spheroids into a single-cell suspension via an enzyme such as trypsin and mechanical disruption (Gong et al, 2019). Because the spheroids must be broken up into a single-cell suspension, it ultimately becomes an endpoint assay as the cells are disposed following the completion of flow cytometry (Gong et al, 2019).…”

Towards the Development of Rapid and Low-Cost Pathogen Detection Systems Using Microfluidic Technology and Optical Image Processing

“…Microfluidic flow cytometers techniques are one of the most powerful approaches for a high resolution of cell analysis. This technique was developed from a traditional flow cytometer, which aids in biological applications and clinic research [14]. Flow cytometers are popular due to the ability to sort, count and detect individual cells, while also measuring scientific characteristics and the handling of cell populations [14,15].…”

“…This technique was developed from a traditional flow cytometer, which aids in biological applications and clinic research [14]. Flow cytometers are popular due to the ability to sort, count and detect individual cells, while also measuring scientific characteristics and the handling of cell populations [14,15]. However, flow cytometers do not effectively detect particles and cells smaller than 0.5 µm in diameter via light scattering [16].…”

Two‐phase flow in microfluidic‐chip design of hydrodynamic filtration for cell particle sorting

“…[1–5]. Microfluidic systems have been recognized as a practical tool for efficient sorting with the benefit of microfabrication, and several types of microfluidic cell sorters are commercially available [6–10]. Instead of employing external force fields in the active sorting [11, 12], the passive sorting relies on the inherent microfluidic features underlying the flow field, channel geometry, and particle interactions.…”