Spectral reading of optical resonance-encoded cells in microfluidics

Lab Chip. 2017 Aug 8;17(16):2777-2784. doi: 10.1039/c7lc00220c.

Abstract

The ability to label individual cells is useful for single-cell-level studies of complex cellular interactions and heterogeneity. Optically readable cell labeling is attractive as it can be investigated non-invasively and repeatedly at high speeds. Here, we demonstrate the feasibility of large-scale cell barcoding and identification using fluorescent polystyrene microbeads loaded into cells. Intracellular beads with different diameters in a range of 5 to 12 μm generate spectrally distinguished features or barcodes. A microfluidic chip was used to measure fluorescence resonance peaks emitted from individual cells. An algorithm comparing the peak wavelengths to a reference barcode library allowed barcode identification with high accuracy. This work provides a guideline to increase the number of unique identifiers and reduce various false-positive and false-negative errors.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Electronic Data Processing*
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / instrumentation*
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Microspheres
  • Polystyrenes
  • Single-Cell Analysis / instrumentation*
  • Single-Cell Analysis / methods*

Substances

  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Polystyrenes