Isolation of single cell in microfluidic devices for biosensing applications

Pavithra Sukumar

| June 21st 2022 – 11 am, NYUAD C1 (ERB) -045 |

Isolation of single cells in an immense microwell array is vital to study the functional signatures of cells. Cells show heterogeneity in genetic expression, release multiple secretary proteins, at the molecular level. Hence, profiling of genotypic and phenotypic signatures is necessary in precision medicine. To study the signature functionalities, the single cells are isolated in microfluidic devices. There are various microfluidic devices to isolate single cells such as hydrodynamic trap, electrical trap, magnetic trap. Here, we fabricated microfluidic devices to isolate single cells based on different configurations of microfluidic channels and microwells. One of the devices, we developed to isolate single immune cells in a massive array of rectangular microwells using air-plugs for cytokine unbias sensing of the secreted proteins. Also, we developed herringbone microfluidic channels and assembled them on glass to isolate breast cancer cells at single cell level. Moreover, to localize the cells, we assembled herringbone microfluidic channel with microwells to isolate single breast cancer cells. Isolated single cells were treated with chemotherapeutic drug at different concentration to study the metabolic activity of survival rate. These isolated cells could be treated with several combination of drugs and the heterogenetic effect of drug sensitivity/resistance response could be studied for small molecule therapeutics.

Speaker’s bio

Ms. Pavithra Sukumar joined the AMM Lab in June 2016 as Research Assistant to develop Microfluidic based biosensor for Immune Cell Phenotyping. Prior to joining AMM Lab, she was working at KIST- Europe branch lab, center for bio-micro-systems at Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul. She worked on fabrication of 3D – lipid tubes, supported lipid bilayers. She received M. Tech in Nanoscience and Technology from Anna University Coimbatore, India. She obtained M.Sc. in Biotechnology from Vellore Institute of Technology, India as well her B. Sc in Biotechnology from Dr.G.R. Damodaran College of Science, India.