Automatic cell fusion via optically-induced dielectrophoresis and optically-induced locally-enhanced electric field on a microfluidic chip

作者：Hsiao Yu Chun; Wang Chih Hung; Lee Wen Bin; Lee Gwo Bin^*

来源：Biomicrofluidics, 2018, 12(3): 034108.

DOI：10.1063/1.5028158

Cell fusion technology has been exploited in a wide variety of biomedical applications, and physical, chemical, and biological approaches can all be used to fuse two different types of cells; however, no current technique is adept at inducing both cell pairing and fusion at high efficiencies and yields. Hence, we developed a new method featuring the use of optically induced dielectrophoresis (ODEP) in conjunction with an optically induced, locally enhanced electric field for accurate and automatic cell pairing and fusion on a microfluidic device. After pairing cells via ODEP, a locally enhanced electric field generated by "virtual electrodes" by projecting light patterns was enacted to induce a proper transmembrane potential at the cell contact area such that cell fusion could be triggered by white light exposure. As a fusion yield of 9.67% was achieved between Pan1 and A549 cells, we believe that this may be a promising technique for automatically fusing different cell types. Published by AIP Publishing.

• 出版日期2018-5
• 单位清华大学