Single cell separation system and method based on droplet microfluidics

Abstract

The invention discloses a single cell separation system and method based on droplet microfluidics. The system comprises a micro-fluidic chip, a microscope, a high-speed camera, a computer, a single-chip microcomputer and a plunger pump, wherein the high-speed camera captures an image of liquid drops under the microscope and transmits the image to the computer for image processing; the computer sends a sorting signal to the single-chip microcomputer; and the single-chip microcomputer controls the plunger pump to move, negative pressure is formed to deflect the liquid drops, and the liquid drops wrapping single cells are enabled to flow to a collection channel. According to the invention, liquid drop identification is carried out through a machine vision method; that is, the high-speed camera shoots liquid drop images in the channel of the micro-fluidic chip under the microscope, and image analysis is carried out to realize liquid drop identification. According to the method, cells do not need to be treated, so the cells are hardly damaged; operation is simple, an automation degree is high, and the single cells can be efficiently and quickly separated; and the problems that an automation degree is low, cells are easily damaged, flux is relatively low, operation is relatively tedious and the like in previous single cell separation processes are solved.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of microfluidics, and more specifically, to a single-cell separation system and method based on droplet microfluidics. Background technique [0002] The analysis of traditional cell biology and clinical samples is based on the tissue (many cells) level, which is the average of all results. However, there are differences between cells, and traditional analysis methods make the differences between cells lost. Biological single-cell analysis shows great promise for a comprehensive understanding of cellular maintenance heterogeneity and complexity for tissue microengineering under physiological conditions. [0003] To analyze single cells, it is first necessary to obtain single cells, that is, to separate single cells. There are many traditional single-cell separation methods. The labor cost of gradient dilution method and micromanipulation method is very high, and the throughput depends on the profici...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

The first is the problem caused by fluorescence, the inconvenience of adding fluorescence and the damage to cells; the second is the problem caused by high pressure, high pressure is easy to cause damage to the microfluidic chip, and high pressure may cause liquid droplets and cells to lyse, which is easy to affect the cell. active

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