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Li SS, Xue CD, Li YJ, Chen XM, Zhao Y, Qin KR. Microfluidic characterization of single-cell biophysical properties and the applications in cancer diagnosis. Electrophoresis 2024; 45:1212-1232. [PMID: 37909658 DOI: 10.1002/elps.202300177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Single-cell biophysical properties play a crucial role in regulating cellular physiological states and functions, demonstrating significant potential in the fields of life sciences and clinical diagnostics. Therefore, over the last few decades, researchers have developed various detection tools to explore the relationship between the biophysical changes of biological cells and human diseases. With the rapid advancement of modern microfabrication technology, microfluidic devices have quickly emerged as a promising platform for single-cell analysis offering advantages including high-throughput, exceptional precision, and ease of manipulation. Consequently, this paper provides an overview of the recent advances in microfluidic analysis and detection systems for single-cell biophysical properties and their applications in the field of cancer. The working principles and latest research progress of single-cell biophysical property detection are first analyzed, highlighting the significance of electrical and mechanical properties. The development of data acquisition and processing methods for real-time, high-throughput, and practical applications are then discussed. Furthermore, the differences in biophysical properties between tumor and normal cells are outlined, illustrating the potential for utilizing single-cell biophysical properties for tumor cell identification, classification, and drug response assessment. Lastly, we summarize the limitations of existing microfluidic analysis and detection systems in single-cell biophysical properties, while also pointing out the prospects and future directions of their applications in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan-Shan Li
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning, P. R. China
| | - Chun-Dong Xue
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning, P. R. China
| | - Yong-Jiang Li
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning, P. R. China
| | - Xiao-Ming Chen
- School of Optoelectronic Engineering and Instrumentation Science, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning, P. R. China
| | - Yan Zhao
- Department of Stomach Surgery, Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, Liaoning, P. R. China
| | - Kai-Rong Qin
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning, P. R. China
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2
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Wu G, Zhang Z, Du M, Wu D, Zhou J, Hao T, Xie X. Optimizing Microfluidic Impedance Cytometry by Bypass Electrode Layout Design. BIOSENSORS 2024; 14:204. [PMID: 38667197 PMCID: PMC11048680 DOI: 10.3390/bios14040204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Microfluidic impedance cytometry (MIC) has emerged as a popular technique for single-cell analysis. Traditional MIC electrode designs consist of a pair of (or three) working electrodes, and their detection performance needs further improvements for microorganisms. In this study, we designed an 8-electrode MIC device in which the center pair was defined as the working electrode, and the connection status of bypass electrodes could be changed. This allowed us to compare the performance of layouts with no bypasses and those with floating or grounding electrodes by simulation and experiment. The results of detecting Φ 5 μm beads revealed that both the grounding and the floating electrode outperformed the no bypass electrode, and the grounding electrode demonstrated the best signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), coefficient of variation (CV), and detection sensitivity. Furthermore, the effects of different bypass grounding areas (numbers of grounding electrodes) were investigated. Finally, particles passing at high horizontal positions can be detected, and Φ 1 μm beads can be measured in a wide channel (150 μm) using a fully grounding electrode, with the sensitivity of bead volume detection reaching 0.00097%. This provides a general MIC electrode optimization technology for detecting smaller particles, even macromolecular proteins, viruses, and exosomes in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangzu Wu
- Systems Engineering Institute, Academy of Military Sciences, People’s Liberation Army, Tianjin 300161, China; (G.W.); (Z.Z.)
- National Bio-Protection Engineering Center, Tianjin 300161, China
| | - Zhiwei Zhang
- Systems Engineering Institute, Academy of Military Sciences, People’s Liberation Army, Tianjin 300161, China; (G.W.); (Z.Z.)
- National Bio-Protection Engineering Center, Tianjin 300161, China
| | - Manman Du
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China;
| | - Dan Wu
- School of Electronic Information and Automation, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300222, China; (D.W.); (J.Z.); (T.H.)
| | - Junting Zhou
- School of Electronic Information and Automation, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300222, China; (D.W.); (J.Z.); (T.H.)
| | - Tianteng Hao
- School of Electronic Information and Automation, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300222, China; (D.W.); (J.Z.); (T.H.)
| | - Xinwu Xie
- Systems Engineering Institute, Academy of Military Sciences, People’s Liberation Army, Tianjin 300161, China; (G.W.); (Z.Z.)
- National Bio-Protection Engineering Center, Tianjin 300161, China
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3
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Mansor MA, Ahmad MR, Petrů M, Rahimian Koloor SS. An impedance flow cytometry with integrated dual microneedle for electrical properties characterization of single cell. ARTIFICIAL CELLS, NANOMEDICINE, AND BIOTECHNOLOGY 2023; 51:371-383. [PMID: 37548425 DOI: 10.1080/21691401.2023.2239274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Electrical characteristics of living cells have been proven to reveal important details about their internal structure, charge distribution and composition changes in the cell membrane, as well as the extracellular context. An impedance flow cytometry is a common approach to determine the electrical properties of a cell, having the advantage of label-free and high throughput. However, the current techniques are complex and costly for the fabrication process. For that reason, we introduce an integrated dual microneedle-microchannel for single-cell detection and electrical properties extraction. The dual microneedles utilized a commercially available tungsten needle coated with parylene. When a single cell flows through the parallel-facing electrode configuration of the dual microneedle, the electrical impedance at multiple frequencies is measured. The impedance measurement demonstrated the differential of normal red blood cells (RBCs) with three different sizes of microbeads at low and high frequencies, 100 kHz and 2 MHz, respectively. An electrical equivalent circuit model (ECM) was used to determine the unique membrane capacitance of individual cells. The proposed technique demonstrated that the specific membrane capacitance of an RBC is 9.42 mF/m-2, with the regression coefficients, ρ at 0.9895. As a result, this device may potentially be used in developing countries for low-cost single-cell screening and detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Asraf Mansor
- Department of Control and Mechatronics Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Ridzuan Ahmad
- Department of Control and Mechatronics Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Malaysia
| | - Michal Petrů
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Liberec, Liberec, Czech Republic
| | - Seyed Saeid Rahimian Koloor
- Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies and Innovation, Technical University of Liberec, Liberec, Czech Republic
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4
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Zhu W, Wang J, Luo H, Luo B, Li X, Liu S, Li C. Electrical Characterization and Analysis of Single Cells and Related Applications. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:907. [PMID: 37887100 PMCID: PMC10605054 DOI: 10.3390/bios13100907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Biological parameters extracted from electrical signals from various body parts have been used for many years to analyze the human body and its behavior. In addition, electrical signals from cancer cell lines, normal cells, and viruses, among others, have been widely used for the detection of various diseases. Single-cell parameters such as cell and cytoplasmic conductivity, relaxation frequency, and membrane capacitance are important. There are many techniques available to characterize biomaterials, such as nanotechnology, microstrip cavity resonance measurement, etc. This article reviews single-cell isolation and sorting techniques, such as the micropipette separation method, separation and sorting system (dual electrophoretic array system), DEPArray sorting system (dielectrophoretic array system), cell selector sorting system, and microfluidic and valve devices, and discusses their respective advantages and disadvantages. Furthermore, it summarizes common single-cell electrical manipulations, such as single-cell amperometry (SCA), electrical impedance sensing (EIS), impedance flow cytometry (IFC), cell-based electrical impedance (CEI), microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and integrated microelectrode array (IMA). The article also enumerates the application and significance of single-cell electrochemical analysis from the perspectives of CTC liquid biopsy, recombinant adenovirus, tumor cells like lung cancer DTCs (LC-DTCs), and single-cell metabolomics analysis. The paper concludes with a discussion of the current limitations faced by single-cell analysis techniques along with future directions and potential application scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weitao Zhu
- Clinical Medicine (Eight-Year Program), West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610044, China; (W.Z.); (J.W.)
| | - Jiaao Wang
- Clinical Medicine (Eight-Year Program), West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610044, China; (W.Z.); (J.W.)
| | - Hongzhi Luo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University (The First People’s Hospital of Zunyi), Zunyi 563002, China;
| | - Binwen Luo
- School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China;
| | - Xue Li
- Sichuan Hanyuan County People’s Hospital, Hanyuan 625300, China;
| | - Shan Liu
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study, Department of Medical Genetics, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, China
| | - Chenzhong Li
- Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518172, China;
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Tang T, Julian T, Ma D, Yang Y, Li M, Hosokawa Y, Yalikun Y. A review on intelligent impedance cytometry systems: Development, applications and advances. Anal Chim Acta 2023; 1269:341424. [PMID: 37290859 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2023.341424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Impedance cytometry is a well-established technique for counting and analyzing single cells, with several advantages, such as convenience, high throughput, and no labeling required. A typical experiment consists of the following steps: single-cell measurement, signal processing, data calibration, and particle subtype identification. At the beginning of this article, we compared commercial and self-developed options extensively and provided references for developing reliable detection systems, which are necessary for cell measurement. Then, a number of typical impedance metrics and their relationships to biophysical properties of cells were analyzed with respect to the impedance signal analysis. Given the rapid advances of intelligent impedance cytometry in the past decade, this article also discussed the development of representative machine learning-based approaches and systems, and their applications in data calibration and particle identification. Finally, the remaining challenges facing the field were summarized, and potential future directions for each step of impedance detection were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Tang
- Division of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayamacho, Ikoma, Nara, 630-0192, Japan; Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore, 117583, Singapore
| | - Trisna Julian
- Division of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayamacho, Ikoma, Nara, 630-0192, Japan
| | - Doudou Ma
- Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yang Yang
- Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, Hainan, 572000, PR China
| | - Ming Li
- School of Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, 2109, Australia
| | - Yoichiroh Hosokawa
- Division of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayamacho, Ikoma, Nara, 630-0192, Japan
| | - Yaxiaer Yalikun
- Division of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayamacho, Ikoma, Nara, 630-0192, Japan; Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
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Nguyen TH, Nguyen HA, Tran Thi YV, Hoang Tran D, Cao H, Chu Duc T, Bui TT, Do Quang L. Concepts, electrode configuration, characterization, and data analytics of electric and electrochemical microfluidic platforms: a review. Analyst 2023; 148:1912-1929. [PMID: 36928639 DOI: 10.1039/d2an02027k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic cytometry (MC) and electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are two important techniques in biomedical engineering. Microfluidic cytometry has been utilized in various fields such as stem cell differentiation and cancer metastasis studies, and provides a simple, label-free, real-time method for characterizing and monitoring cellular fates. The impedance microdevice, including impedance flow cytometry (IFC) and electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), is integrated into MC systems. IFC measures the impedance of individual cells as they flow through a microfluidic device, while EIS measures impedance changes during binding events on electrode regions. There have been significant efforts to improve and optimize these devices for both basic research and clinical applications, based on the concepts, electrode configurations, and cell fates. This review outlines the theoretical concepts, electrode engineering, and data analytics of these devices, and highlights future directions for development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thu Hang Nguyen
- University of Engineering and Technology, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam.
| | | | - Y-Van Tran Thi
- University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam.
| | | | - Hung Cao
- University of California, Irvine, USA
| | - Trinh Chu Duc
- University of Engineering and Technology, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam.
| | - Tung Thanh Bui
- University of Engineering and Technology, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam.
| | - Loc Do Quang
- University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam.
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7
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Recent advances in non-optical microfluidic platforms for bioparticle detection. Biosens Bioelectron 2023; 222:114944. [PMID: 36470061 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2022.114944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
The effective analysis of the basic structure and functional information of bioparticles are of great significance for the early diagnosis of diseases. The synergism between microfluidics and particle manipulation/detection technologies offers enhanced system integration capability and test accuracy for the detection of various bioparticles. Most microfluidic detection platforms are based on optical strategies such as fluorescence, absorbance, and image recognition. Although optical microfluidic platforms have proven their capabilities in the practical clinical detection of bioparticles, shortcomings such as expensive components and whole bulky devices have limited their practicality in the development of point-of-care testing (POCT) systems to be used in remote and underdeveloped areas. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop cost-effective non-optical microfluidic platforms for bioparticle detection that can act as alternatives to optical counterparts. In this review, we first briefly summarise passive and active methods for bioparticle manipulation in microfluidics. Then, we survey the latest progress in non-optical microfluidic strategies based on electrical, magnetic, and acoustic techniques for bioparticle detection. Finally, a perspective is offered, clarifying challenges faced by current non-optical platforms in developing practical POCT devices and clinical applications.
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8
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Tang T, Liu X, Yuan Y, Zhang T, Kiya R, Yang Y, Yamazaki Y, Kamikubo H, Tanaka Y, Li M, Hosokawa Y, Yalikun Y. Parallel Impedance Cytometry for Real-Time Screening of Bacterial Single Cells from Nano- to Microscale. ACS Sens 2022; 7:3700-3709. [PMID: 36203240 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.2c01351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The benefits of impedance cytometry include high-throughput and label-free detection, while long-term calibration is required to remove the effects of the detection circuits. This study presents a novel impedance cytometry system, called parallel impedance cytometry, to simplify the calibration and analysis of the impedance signals. Furthermore, target objects can be detected even when benchmarked against similar objects. Parallel dual microchannels allow the simultaneous detection of reference and target particles in two separate microchannels, without the premixing of reference and target suspensions. The impedance pulses of both can appear separately on the opposite sides of the same time series, which have been verified via simulation and experimental results. Raw impedance signals can easily distinguish target particles from reference ones. Polystyrene beads with different sizes ranging from nano- to microscale (e.g., 500, 750 nm, 1, 2, 3, and 4.5 μm) confirm the nanosensitivity of the system. In addition, the detection of antibiotic-treated Escherichia coli cells demonstrates that our system can be used for the quantitative assessment of the dielectric properties of individual cells, as well as for the proportion of susceptible cells. Through benchmarking against untreated E. coli cells in the other channel, our method enables the discrimination of susceptible cells from others and the comparison of susceptible and insusceptible cells in the target suspension. Those findings indicate that the parallel impedance cytometry can greatly facilitate the measurement and calibration of the impedances of various particles or cells and provide a means to compare their dielectric properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Tang
- Division of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayamacho, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan
| | - Xun Liu
- Division of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayamacho, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan
| | - Yapeng Yuan
- Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Tianlong Zhang
- Division of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayamacho, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan.,School of Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney 2109, Australia
| | - Ryota Kiya
- Division of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayamacho, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan
| | - Yang Yang
- Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, Hainan 572000, P. R. China
| | - Yoichi Yamazaki
- Division of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayamacho, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan
| | - Hironari Kamikubo
- Division of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayamacho, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan
| | - Yo Tanaka
- Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Ming Li
- School of Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney 2109, Australia
| | - Yoichiroh Hosokawa
- Division of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayamacho, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan
| | - Yaxiaer Yalikun
- Division of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayamacho, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan.,Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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9
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Recent advances of integrated microfluidic systems for fungal and bacterial analysis. Trends Analyt Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2022.116850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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10
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Label-Free Microfluidic Impedance Cytometry for Acrosome Integrity Assessment of Boar Spermatozoa. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:bios12090679. [PMID: 36140064 PMCID: PMC9496365 DOI: 10.3390/bios12090679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Microfluidics and lab-on-chip technologies have been used in a wide range of biomedical applications. They are known as versatile, rapid, and low-cost alternatives for expensive equipment and time-intensive processing. The veterinary industry and human fertility clinics could greatly benefit from label-free and standardized methods for semen analysis. We developed a tool to determine the acrosome integrity of spermatozoa using microfluidic impedance cytometry. Spermatozoa from boars were treated with the calcium ionophore A23187 to induce acrosome reaction. The magnitude, phase and opacity of individual treated and non-treated (control) spermatozoa were analyzed and compared to conventional staining for acrosome integrity. The results show that the opacity at 19 MHz over 0.5 MHz is associated with acrosome integrity with a cut-off threshold at 0.86 (sensitivity 98%, specificity 97%). In short, we have demonstrated that acrosome integrity can be determined using opacity, illustrating that microfluidic impedance cytometers have the potential to become a versatile and efficient alternative in semen analysis and for fertility treatments in the veterinary industry and human fertility clinics.
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Farooq A, Hayat F, Zafar S, Butt NZ. Thin flexible lab-on-a-film for impedimetric sensing in biomedical applications. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1066. [PMID: 35058505 PMCID: PMC8776742 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-04917-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractMicrofluidic cytometers based on coulter principle have recently shown a great potential for point of care biosensors for medical diagnostics. Here, we explore the design of an impedimetric microfluidic cytometer on flexible substrate. Two coplanar microfluidic geometries are compared to highlight the sensitivity of the device to the microelectrode positions relative to the detection volume. We show that the microelectrodes surface area and the geometry of the sensing volume for the cells strongly influence the output response of the sensor. Reducing the sensing volume decreases the pulse width but increases the overall pulse amplitude with an enhanced signal-to-noise ratio (~ max. SNR = 38.78 dB). For the proposed design, the SNR was adequate to enable good detection and differentiation of 10 µm diameter polystyrene beads and leukemia cells (~ 6–21 µm). Also, a systematic approach for irreversible & strong bond strength between the thin flexible surfaces that make up the biochip is explored in this work. We observed the changes in surface wettability due to various methods of surface treatment can be a valuable metric for determining bond strength. We observed permanent bonding between microelectrode defined polypropylene surface and microchannel carved PDMS due to polar/silanol groups formed by plasma treatment and consequent covalent crosslinking by amine groups. These experimental insights provide valuable design guidelines for enhancing the sensitivity of coulter based flexible lab-on-a-chip devices which have a wide range of applications in point of care diagnostics.
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12
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Feng Y, Cheng Z, Chai H, He W, Huang L, Wang W. Neural network-enhanced real-time impedance flow cytometry for single-cell intrinsic characterization. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:240-249. [PMID: 34849522 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00755f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Single-cell impedance flow cytometry (IFC) is emerging as a label-free and non-invasive method for characterizing the electrical properties and revealing sample heterogeneity. At present, most IFC studies utilize phenomenological parameters (e.g., impedance amplitude, phase and opacity) to characterize single cells instead of intrinsic biophysical metrics (e.g., radius r, cytoplasm conductivity σi and specific membrane capacitance Csm). Intrinsic parameters are normally calculated off-line by time-consuming model-fitting methods. Here, we propose to employ neural network (NN)-enhanced IFC to achieve both real-time single-cell intrinsic characterization and intrinsic parameter-based cell classification at high throughput. Three intrinsic parameters (r, σi and Csm) can be obtained online and in real-time via a trained NN at 0.3 ms per single-cell event, achieving significant improvement in calculation speed. Experiments involving four cancer cells and one lymphocyte cell demonstrated 91.5% classification accuracy in the cell type for a test group of 9751 cell samples. By performing a viability assay, we provide evidence that the IFC test per se would not substantially affect the cell property. We envision that the NN-enhanced real-time IFC will provide a new platform for high-throughput, real-time and online cell intrinsic electrical characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongxiang Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instrument, Department of Precision Instrument, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
| | - Zhen Cheng
- Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Huichao Chai
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instrument, Department of Precision Instrument, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
| | - Weihua He
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instrument, Department of Precision Instrument, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
| | - Liang Huang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Measuring Theory and Precision Instrument, School of Instrument Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Wenhui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instrument, Department of Precision Instrument, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
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Zhang Z, Huang X, Liu K, Lan T, Wang Z, Zhu Z. Recent Advances in Electrical Impedance Sensing Technology for Single-Cell Analysis. BIOSENSORS 2021; 11:470. [PMID: 34821686 PMCID: PMC8615761 DOI: 10.3390/bios11110470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Cellular heterogeneity is of significance in cell-based assays for life science, biomedicine and clinical diagnostics. Electrical impedance sensing technology has become a powerful tool, allowing for rapid, non-invasive, and label-free acquisition of electrical parameters of single cells. These electrical parameters, i.e., equivalent cell resistance, membrane capacitance and cytoplasm conductivity, are closely related to cellular biophysical properties and dynamic activities, such as size, morphology, membrane intactness, growth state, and proliferation. This review summarizes basic principles, analytical models and design concepts of single-cell impedance sensing devices, including impedance flow cytometry (IFC) to detect flow-through single cells and electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to monitor immobilized single cells. Then, recent advances of both electrical impedance sensing systems applied in cell recognition, cell counting, viability detection, phenotypic assay, cell screening, and other cell detection are presented. Finally, prospects of impedance sensing technology in single-cell analysis are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of MEMS of Ministry of Education, Southeast University, Sipailou 2, Nanjing 210018, China; (Z.Z.); (K.L.); (T.L.)
| | - Xiaowen Huang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (Jiangsu Province Hospital), Department of Orthopedics, Nanjing 210029, China;
| | - Ke Liu
- Key Laboratory of MEMS of Ministry of Education, Southeast University, Sipailou 2, Nanjing 210018, China; (Z.Z.); (K.L.); (T.L.)
| | - Tiancong Lan
- Key Laboratory of MEMS of Ministry of Education, Southeast University, Sipailou 2, Nanjing 210018, China; (Z.Z.); (K.L.); (T.L.)
| | - Zixin Wang
- School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Xingang Xi Road 135, Guangzhou 510275, China;
| | - Zhen Zhu
- Key Laboratory of MEMS of Ministry of Education, Southeast University, Sipailou 2, Nanjing 210018, China; (Z.Z.); (K.L.); (T.L.)
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Tang T, Liu X, Kiya R, Shen Y, Yuan Y, Zhang T, Suzuki K, Tanaka Y, Li M, Hosokawa Y, Yalikun Y. Microscopic impedance cytometry for quantifying single cell shape. Biosens Bioelectron 2021; 193:113521. [PMID: 34380102 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2021.113521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we investigated the ability of impedance flow cytometry to measure the shape of single cells/particles. We found that the impedance pulses triggered by micro-objects that are asymmetric in morphology show a tilting trend, and there is no such a tilting trend for symmetric ones. Therefore, we proposed a new metric, tilt index, to quantify the tilt level of the impedance pulses. Through simulation, we found that the value of tilt index tends to be zero for perfectly symmetrical objects, while the value is greater than zero for asymmetrical ones. Also, this metric was found to be independent on the trajectories (i.e., lateral, and z-direction shift) of the target micro-object. In experiments, we adopted a home-made lock-in amplifier and performed experiments on 10 μm polystyrene beads and Euglena gracilis (E. gracilis) cells with varying shapes. The experimental results coincided with the simulation results and demonstrated that the new metric (tilt index) enables the impedance cytometry to characterize the shape single cells/particles without microscopy or other optical setups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Tang
- Division of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama-cho Ikoma, Nara, 630-0192, Japan
| | - Xun Liu
- Division of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama-cho Ikoma, Nara, 630-0192, Japan
| | - Ryota Kiya
- Division of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama-cho Ikoma, Nara, 630-0192, Japan
| | - Yigang Shen
- Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, 1-3 Yamadaoka Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yapeng Yuan
- Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, 1-3 Yamadaoka Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Tianlong Zhang
- Division of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama-cho Ikoma, Nara, 630-0192, Japan; School of Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, 2109, Australia
| | | | - Yo Tanaka
- Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, 1-3 Yamadaoka Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Ming Li
- School of Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, 2109, Australia
| | - Yoichiroh Hosokawa
- Division of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama-cho Ikoma, Nara, 630-0192, Japan
| | - Yaxiaer Yalikun
- Division of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama-cho Ikoma, Nara, 630-0192, Japan; Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, 1-3 Yamadaoka Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
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15
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Biochip with multi-planar electrodes geometry for differentiation of non-spherical bioparticles in a microchannel. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11880. [PMID: 34088942 PMCID: PMC8178319 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-91109-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
A biosensor capable of differentiating cells or other microparticles based on morphology finds significant biomedical applications. Examples may include morphological determination in the cellular division process, differentiation of bacterial cells, and cellular morphological variation in inflammation and cancer etc. Here, we present a novel integrated multi-planar microelectrodes geometry design that can distinguish a non-spherical individual particle flowing along a microchannel based on its electrical signature. We simulated multi-planar electrodes design in COMSOL Multiphysics and have shown that the changes in electrical field intensity corresponding to multiple particle morphologies can be distinguished. Our initial investigation has shown that top-bottom electrodes configuration produces significantly enhanced signal strength for a spherical particle as compared to co-planar configuration. Next, we integrated the co-planar and top-bottom configurations to develop a multi-planar microelectrode design capable of electrical impedance measurement at different spatial planes inside a microchannel by collecting multiple output signatures. We tested our integrated multi-planar electrode design with particles of different elliptical morphologies by gradually changing spherical particle dimensions to the non-spherical. The computed electrical signal ratio of non-spherical to spherical particle shows a very good correlation to predict the particle morphology. The biochip sensitivity is also found be independent of orientation of the particle flowing in the microchannel. Our integrated design will help develop the technology that will allow morphological analysis of various bioparticles in a microfluidic channel in the future.
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16
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Zhu S, Zhang X, Zhou Z, Han Y, Xiang N, Ni Z. Microfluidic impedance cytometry for single-cell sensing: Review on electrode configurations. Talanta 2021; 233:122571. [PMID: 34215067 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2021.122571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Single-cell analysis has gained considerable attention for disease diagnosis, drug screening, and differentiation monitoring. Compared to the well-established flow cytometry, which uses fluorescent-labeled antibodies, microfluidic impedance cytometry (MIC) offers a simple, label-free, and noninvasive method for counting, classifying, and monitoring cells. Superior features including a small footprint, low reagent consumption, and ease of use have also been reported. The MIC device detects changes in the impedance signal caused by cells passing through the sensing/electric field zone, which can extract information regarding the size, shape, and dielectric properties of these cells. According to recent studies, electrode configuration has a remarkable effect on detection accuracy, sensitivity, and throughput. With the improvement in microfabrication technology, various electrode configurations have been reported for improving detection accuracy and throughput. However, the various electrode configurations of MIC devices have not been reviewed. In this review, the theoretical background of the impedance technique for single-cell analysis is introduced. Then, two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and liquid electrode configurations are discussed separately; their sensing mechanisms, fabrication processes, advantages, disadvantages, and applications are also described in detail. Finally, the current limitations and future perspectives of these electrode configurations are summarized. The main aim of this review is to offer a guide for researchers on the ongoing advancement in electrode configuration designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Zhu
- School of Mechanical Engineering, And Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China
| | - Xiaozhe Zhang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, And Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China
| | - Zheng Zhou
- School of Mechanical Engineering, And Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China
| | - Yu Han
- School of Mechanical Engineering, And Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China
| | - Nan Xiang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, And Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
| | - Zhonghua Ni
- School of Mechanical Engineering, And Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
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17
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Geng Y, Zhu Z, Zhang Z, Xu F, Marchisio MA, Wang Z, Pan D, Zhao X, Huang QA. Design and 3D modeling investigation of a microfluidic electrode array for electrical impedance measurement of single yeast cells. Electrophoresis 2021; 42:1996-2009. [PMID: 33938013 DOI: 10.1002/elps.202100028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
High-resolution microscopic imaging may cause intensive image processing and potential impact of light irradiation on yeast replicative lifespan (RLS). Electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) could be alternatively used to perform high-throughput and label-free yeast RLS assays. Prior to fabricating EIS-integrated microfluidic devices for yeast RLS determination, systematic modeling and theoretical investigation are crucial for device design and optimization. Here, we report three-dimensional (3D) finite-element modeling and simulations of EIS measurement in a microfluidic single yeast in-situ impedance array (SYIIA), which is designed by patterning an electrode matrix underneath a cell-trapping array. SYIIA was instantiated and modeled as a 5 × 5 sensing array comprising 25 units for cell immobilization, culturing, and time-lapse EIS recording. Simulations of yeast growing and budding in a sensing unit demonstrated that EIS signals enable the characterization of cell growth and daughter-cell dissections. In the 5 × 5 sensing array, simulation results indicated that when monitoring a target cell, daughter dissections in its surrounding traps may induce variations of the recorded EIS signals, which could cause mistakes in identifying target daughter-cell dissections. To eliminate the mis-identifications, electrode array pitch was optimized. Therefore, the results could conduct the design and optimization of microfluidic electrode-array-integrated devices for high-throughput and accurate yeast RLS assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangye Geng
- Key Laboratory of MEMS of Ministry of Education, Southeast University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Zhen Zhu
- Key Laboratory of MEMS of Ministry of Education, Southeast University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Zhao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of MEMS of Ministry of Education, Southeast University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Feng Xu
- Key Laboratory of MEMS of Ministry of Education, Southeast University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Mario A Marchisio
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Zixin Wang
- School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Dejing Pan
- CAM-SU Genomic Resource Center, Soochow University, Suzhou, P. R. China
| | - Xiangwei Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Southeast University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Qing-An Huang
- Key Laboratory of MEMS of Ministry of Education, Southeast University, Nanjing, P. R. China
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18
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Ma J, Du M, Wang C, Xie X, Wang H, Zhang Q. Advances in airborne microorganisms detection using biosensors: A critical review. FRONTIERS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING 2021; 15:47. [PMID: 33842019 PMCID: PMC8023783 DOI: 10.1007/s11783-021-1420-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Humanity has been facing the threat of a variety of infectious diseases. Airborne microorganisms can cause airborne infectious diseases, which spread rapidly and extensively, causing huge losses to human society on a global scale. In recent years, the detection technology for airborne microorganisms has developed rapidly; it can be roughly divided into biochemical, immune, and molecular technologies. However, these technologies still have some shortcomings; they are time-consuming and have low sensitivity and poor stability. Most of them need to be used in the ideal environment of a laboratory, which limits their applications. A biosensor is a device that converts biological signals into detectable signals. As an interdisciplinary field, biosensors have successfully introduced a variety of technologies for bio-detection. Given their fast analysis speed, high sensitivity, good portability, strong specificity, and low cost, biosensors have been widely used in environmental monitoring, medical research, food and agricultural safety, military medicine and other fields. In recent years, the performance of biosensors has greatly improved, becoming a promising technology for airborne microorganism detection. This review introduces the detection principle of biosensors from the three aspects of component identification, energy conversion principle, and signal amplification. It also summarizes its research and application in airborne microorganism detection. The new progress and future development trend of the biosensor detection of airborne microorganisms are analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinbiao Ma
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072 China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, Tianjin, 300072 China
| | - Manman Du
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072 China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, Tianjin, 300072 China
| | - Can Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072 China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, Tianjin, 300072 China
| | - Xinwu Xie
- Institute of Medical Support Technology, Academy of Military Science, Tianjin, 300161 China
- National Bio-Protection Engineering Center, Tianjin, 300161 China
| | - Hao Wang
- Institute of Medical Support Technology, Academy of Military Science, Tianjin, 300161 China
- School of Electronic Information and Automation, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, 300222 China
| | - Qian Zhang
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Safety Engineering, Institute of Particle Technology, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, D-42119 Germany
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Honrado C, Bisegna P, Swami NS, Caselli F. Single-cell microfluidic impedance cytometry: from raw signals to cell phenotypes using data analytics. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:22-54. [PMID: 33331376 PMCID: PMC7909465 DOI: 10.1039/d0lc00840k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The biophysical analysis of single-cells by microfluidic impedance cytometry is emerging as a label-free and high-throughput means to stratify the heterogeneity of cellular systems based on their electrophysiology. Emerging applications range from fundamental life-science and drug assessment research to point-of-care diagnostics and precision medicine. Recently, novel chip designs and data analytic strategies are laying the foundation for multiparametric cell characterization and subpopulation distinction, which are essential to understand biological function, follow disease progression and monitor cell behaviour in microsystems. In this tutorial review, we present a comparative survey of the approaches to elucidate cellular and subcellular features from impedance cytometry data, covering the related subjects of device design, data analytics (i.e., signal processing, dielectric modelling, population clustering), and phenotyping applications. We give special emphasis to the exciting recent developments of the technique (timeframe 2017-2020) and provide our perspective on future challenges and directions. Its synergistic application with microfluidic separation, sensor science and machine learning can form an essential toolkit for label-free quantification and isolation of subpopulations to stratify heterogeneous biosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Honrado
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA.
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20
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Abstract
Single-cell impedance cytometry is a label-free analysis technique that is now widely used to measure the electrical properties of a cell and to differentiate different subpopulations. Current techniques are limited to measuring the impedance of a single cell at one or two simultaneous frequencies. Also, there are no methods that extrapolate the intrinsic electrical properties of single cells. We demonstrate a new approach that uses multifrequency impedance measurements to determine the complete intrinsic electrical properties of thousands of single cells at high throughput. The applicability of the method is demonstrated by measuring the properties of red blood cells and red cell ghosts, deriving the unique values of conductivity and permittivity of the membrane and cytoplasm for each individual cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Spencer
- Electronics and Computer Science, and Institute of Life Sciences University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, U.K
| | - Hywel Morgan
- Electronics and Computer Science, and Institute of Life Sciences University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, U.K
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