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Trapping cells on a stretchable microwell array for single-cell analysis

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Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

An Erratum to this article was published on 21 July 2012

Abstract

There is a need for a technology that can be incorporated into routine laboratory procedures to obtain a continuous, quantitative, fluorescence-based measurement of the dynamic behaviors of numerous individual living cells in parallel, while allowing other manipulations, such as staining, rinsing, and even retrieval of targeted cells. Here, we report a simple, low-cost microarray platform that can trap cells for dynamic single-cell analysis of mammalian cells. The elasticity of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was utilized to trap tens of thousands of cells on an array. The PDMS microwell array was stretched by a tube through which cells were loaded on the array. Cells were trapped on the array by removal of the tube and relaxation of the PDMS. Once that was accomplished, the cells remained trapped on the array without continuous application of an external force and permitted subsequent manipulations, such as staining, rinsing, imaging, and even isolation of targeted cells. We demonstrate the utility of this platform by multicolor analysis of trapped cells and monitoring in individual cells real-time calcium flux after exposure to the calcium ionophore ionomycin. Additionally, a proof of concept for target cell isolation was demonstrated by using a microneedle to locally deform the PDMS membrane in order to retrieve a particular cell from the array.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the NIH (EB007612 and EB012549). We thank Michelle Kovarik for helpful discussions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA

    Yuli Wang, Colleen Phillips, Christopher E. Sims & Nancy L. Allbritton

  2. Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA

    Pavak Shah & Nancy L. Allbritton

  3. North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA

    Pavak Shah & Nancy L. Allbritton

Authors
  1. Yuli Wang
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  2. Pavak Shah
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  3. Colleen Phillips
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  4. Christopher E. Sims
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  5. Nancy L. Allbritton
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nancy L. Allbritton.

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Wang, Y., Shah, P., Phillips, C. et al. Trapping cells on a stretchable microwell array for single-cell analysis. Anal Bioanal Chem 402, 1065–1072 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-011-5535-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-011-5535-9

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