Ferromagnetic micropallets for magnetic capture of single adherent cells

Langmuir. 2010 Nov 16;26(22):17703-11. doi: 10.1021/la101960v. Epub 2010 Oct 22.

Abstract

We present a magnetic micropallet array and demonstrate its capacity to recover specific, individual adherent cells from large populations and deliver them for downstream single cell analysis. A ferromagnetic photopolymer was formulated, characterized, and used to fabricate magnetic micropallets, which are microscale pedestals that provide demarcated cell growth surfaces with preservation of biophysical properties including photopatternability, biocompatibility, and optical clarity. Each micropallet holds a single adherent cell in culture, and hundreds of thousands of micropallets comprise a single micropallet array. Any micropallet in the array can be recovered on demand, carrying the adhered cell with it. We used this platform to recover selectively single cells, which were subsequently analyzed using single-cell RT-qPCR.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biophysical Phenomena
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Extracellular Matrix / metabolism
  • Ferric Compounds / chemistry*
  • Ferric Compounds / metabolism*
  • Ferric Compounds / toxicity
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Humans
  • Light
  • Magnetics*
  • Materials Testing
  • Mice
  • Microtechnology / instrumentation*
  • Molecular Imaging
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Rats
  • Single-Cell Analysis

Substances

  • Ferric Compounds
  • ferric oxide