A portable single-cell transfer device and a transfer gun comprising the same

Abstract

The application discloses a portable single-cell transfer device, which comprises a micro-fluidic chip body, wherein a main micro-fluid channel, a secondary micro-fluid channel, a culture solution cavity, a waste liquid cavity and an electrode for detecting the number of single cells flowing out of the main micro-fluid channel are arranged in the micro-fluidic chip body, the electrode is arranged on the main micro-fluid channel, the culture solution cavity is communicated with the main micro-fluid channel through the secondary micro-fluid channel, and the waste liquid cavity is communicated with the main micro-fluid channel; one end of the secondary micro-fluid channel is provided with a capture groove for clamping single cells; the culture solution cavity and the waste liquid cavity are respectively provided with a liquid port and an outlet, and the liquid port and the outlet are connected with a power device. The application further discloses a transfer gun formed by the portable single-cell transfer device. The application is simple in operation and can be completed without spending a large amount of time in each experiment; one to multiple single cells can be obtained in a single experiment, the utilization rate of cells is high, and the cells do not need to be specially operated, so that the activity of the cells is not affected.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a cell transfer device, in particular to a portable single cell transfer device and a transfer gun formed by the same. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the biomedical field, single cell separation is an extremely important technology, through which people can obtain single target cells for the purpose of culture or detection. The existing single cell separation methods mainly include flow cytometry fluorescence sorting technology (FACS) and immunomagnetic cell sorting method (MACS).

[0003] The basic principle of flow cytometry fluorescence sorting technology (FACS) is as follows: first, prepare a cell suspension, and then put it into a sample tube after being dyed or labeled with fluorescence. The cell suspension is pressed into a flow chamber by high pressure. In the cell chamber, the cells are arranged in a single column under the wrapping and pushing action of the sheath fluid, and are sprayed from the jet of the flow chamber. The jet of the flow chamber has a piezoelectric crystal that breaks the liquid flow into droplets. The cells to be tested are carried into different containers by these droplets under the action of a high-voltage electric field, thereby achieving high-precision separation.

[0004] The basic principle of immunomagnetic cell sorting method (MACS) is as follows: the cells are labeled with MACS microbeads, and then put into a sorting column with a stable magnetic field. A magnetic field is formed in the sorting column, which allows the labeled cells to remain in the sorting column, and the unlabeled cells are discharged. Finally, the cells in the sorting column are eluted after the magnetic field is removed, thereby realizing the separation of cells.

[0005] However, flow cytometry fluorescence sorting technology (FACS) requires fluorescent dyeing or labeling of cells, so a large number of experimental cells are needed. The amount of cells separated each time is limited, and the cell activity is affected to some extent. Moreover, the device is complex, the steps are tedious, and the process is time-consuming. Immunomagnetic cell sorting method (MACS) requires magnetic labeling of cells, and a large number of samples are needed, and the utilization rate of cells is low. The cells are separated under the action of a magnetic field, and then need to be eluted, which is time-consuming and affects the activity of the cells. SUMMARY

[0006] The present application aims to solve the above problems, and provides a portable single cell transfer device and a transfer gun formed by the same. The present application is simple to operate, and can be completed in a short time for each experiment. Moreover, one or more single cells can be obtained in a single experiment, the utilization rate of cells is high, and no special operation is required for the cells, which does not affect the activity of the cells.

[0007] The object of the present application can be achieved by the following technical solutions:

[0008] The portable single cell transfer device comprises a microfluidic chip body, a main microfluid channel, a secondary microfluid channel, a culture solution cavity, a waste liquid cavity and an electrode for detecting the number of single cells flowing out of the main microfluid channel are arranged in the microfluidic chip body, the electrode is arranged on the main microfluid channel, the culture solution cavity is communicated with the main microfluid channel through the secondary microfluid channel, and the waste liquid cavity is communicated with the main microfluid channel; one end of the secondary microfluid channel is provided with a capture groove for clamping a single cell; the culture solution cavity and the waste liquid cavity are respectively provided with a liquid port and an outlet, and the liquid port and the outlet are connected with a power device.

[0009] As a preferred scheme, the diameter of the capture groove is smaller than the diameter of the cell.

[0010] As a preferred scheme, the power device is a peristaltic pump.

[0011] As a preferred scheme, a groove is arranged on the inner wall of the main microfluid channel, and the electrode is arranged in the groove.

[0012] The transfer gun based on the portable single cell transfer device comprises the portable single cell transfer device, a gun shell, a circuit board, a battery, a display screen and a button for controlling the working state of the portable single cell transfer device, the portable single cell transfer device is arranged in the front end of the gun shell; the circuit board and the battery are arranged in the rear end of the gun shell; the battery supplies power for the portable single cell transfer device, the circuit board and the display screen, the button controls the working state of the portable single cell transfer device through the circuit board, and the circuit board receives the signal of the discharged single cells emitted by the portable single cell transfer device and displays the signal through the display screen.

[0013] As a preferred scheme, the button controls the working state of the peristaltic pump through the circuit board.

[0014] As a preferred scheme, the circuit board receives the pulse signal of the electrode.

[0015] The present application has the following advantages:

[0016] 1. The present application is simple to operate, and can be completed without spending a lot of time each time, and one or more single cells can be obtained in a single experiment, the cell utilization rate is high, and the cells do not need to be specially operated, and the activity of the cells is not affected.

[0017] 2. The transfer gun of the present application can control the working state of the portable single cell transfer device through the corresponding button, and can realize the portable and rapid absorption of cell-free culture solution or cell suspension, and the operation is more convenient and fast, and the efficiency of the experiment is improved. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings needed in the embodiments or prior art description. Obviously, the drawings in the following description only show some embodiments of the present application, and for those skilled in the art, other drawings can also be obtained without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a portable single-cell transfer device of the present application.

[0020] Figure 2 is a structural schematic diagram of a liquid flow structure in the first step of use of the portable single-cell transfer device of the present application.

[0021] Figure 3 is a structural schematic diagram of a liquid flow structure in the second step of use of the portable single-cell transfer device of the present application.

[0022] Figure 4 is a structural schematic diagram of a liquid flow structure in the third step of use of the portable single-cell transfer device of the present application.

[0023] Figure 5 is a structural schematic diagram of a transfer gun of the portable single-cell transfer device of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described clearly and completely below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of the present application, but not all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0025] EMBODIMENT

[0026] REFERENCE Figures 1 to 4 The present embodiment relates to a portable single-cell transfer device, which comprises a microfluidic chip body 1, wherein the microfluidic chip body 1 is provided with a main microfluid channel 11, a secondary microfluid channel 12, a culture solution cavity 13, a waste liquid cavity 14, and an electrode 15 for detecting the number of single cells flowing out of the main microfluid channel 11, the electrode 15 is arranged on the main microfluid channel 11, the culture solution cavity 13 is in communication with the main microfluid channel 11 through the secondary microfluid channel 12, and the waste liquid cavity 14 is in communication with the main microfluid channel 11; one end of the secondary microfluid channel 12 is provided with a capture groove 121 for clamping a single cell; the culture solution cavity 13 and the waste liquid cavity 14 are respectively provided with a liquid port 131 and an outlet 141, and the liquid port 131 and the outlet 141 are both connected with a power device 100. The power device 100 is a peristaltic pump.

[0027] In use, first, the power device provides negative pressure for the culture solution cavity 13, and absorbs cell-free culture solution (without cells) from outside through the main micro-channel 11 and stores it in the culture solution cavity 13; then, the power device provides negative pressure for the waste liquid cavity 14 and the culture solution cavity 13, and absorbs cell suspension from outside through the main micro-channel 11, at this time, the cells in the cell suspension enter the capture groove 121 and are clamped in the capture groove 121 and cannot enter the auxiliary micro-channel 12. Then, the power device provides negative pressure for the waste liquid cavity 14, and absorbs cell-free culture solution from outside through the main micro-channel 11, and flushes the excess cells in the main micro-channel 11 and the capture groove 121 to the waste liquid cavity 14, leaving only a single cell in the capture groove 121. Finally, the power device provides positive pressure for the culture solution cavity 13, and the cell-free culture solution in the culture solution cavity 13 discharges the single cell in the capture groove 121 to the main micro-channel 11 at a stable and controllable flow rate, and then discharges it out of the microfluidic chip body 1, and detects whether the cell is successfully discharged through the electrode 15. The structure is simple to operate, and a single experiment can be completed without spending a lot of time each time; and one to more single cells can be obtained in a single experiment, the cell utilization rate is high, and the cell does not need to be specially operated and will not affect the activity of the cell.

[0028] As shown in Figure 3 , because the rear part of the main micro-channel 11 is designed as a curved flow channel, the fluid resistance at this position is increased, so the flow rate of the liquid entering the auxiliary micro-channel 12 from the main micro-channel 11 will be significantly greater than the speed of entering the curved flow channel. Therefore, the capture groove is designed at the interface of the main micro-channel 11 and the auxiliary micro-channel 12, which ensures that cells can be captured every time the cell culture solution is absorbed. The flow channel diameter of the auxiliary micro-channel 12 is significantly smaller than the cell diameter, and the cell will not enter the auxiliary micro-channel 12.

[0029] In order to prevent the cell from entering the auxiliary micro-channel 12, the diameter of the capture groove 121 is smaller than the diameter of the cell.

[0030] The inner wall of the main micro-channel 11 is provided with a groove, and the electrode 15 is arranged in the groove. When the cell passes through the electrode 15, the electrode 15 can detect the number of cells passing through.

[0031] The embodiment also provides a transfer gun based on the above-mentioned portable single cell transfer device, as shown in Figure 5As shown, the portable single cell transfer device 101, the gun shell 102, the circuit board 103, the battery 104, the display screen 105 and the button 106 for controlling the working state of the portable single cell transfer device 101 are included, the portable single cell transfer device 101 is arranged in the front end of the gun shell 102; the circuit board 103 and the battery 104 are arranged in the rear end of the gun shell 102; the battery 104 supplies power for the portable single cell transfer device 101, the circuit board 103 and the display screen 105, the button 106 controls the working state of the portable single cell transfer device 101 through the circuit board 103, and the circuit board 103 receives the discharged single cell signal emitted by the portable single cell transfer device 101 and displays it through the display screen 105. In use, the working state of the portable single cell transfer device 101 can be controlled through the corresponding button 106, the portable rapid absorption of cell-free culture solution or cell suspension can be realized, the operation is more convenient and fast, and the efficiency of the experiment is improved.

[0032] The button 106 controls the working state of the peristaltic pump through the circuit board 103. The circuit board 103 receives the pulse signal of the electrode 15.

[0033] The above disclosure is only one preferred embodiment of the present application, and of course cannot limit the scope of the present application, so the equivalent changes made according to the claims of the present application still belong to the scope covered by the present application.

Claims

1. A transfer gun consisting of a portable single-cell transfer device, characterized in that, The portable single-cell transfer device, the gun shell, the circuit board, the battery, the display screen and the button for controlling the working state of the portable single-cell transfer device are included, the portable single-cell transfer device is arranged in the front end of the gun shell, the circuit board and the battery are arranged in the rear end of the gun shell, the battery supplies power for the portable single-cell transfer device, the circuit board and the display screen, the button controls the working state of the portable single-cell transfer device through the circuit board, and the circuit board receives the signal of the discharged single cell of the portable single-cell transfer device and displays the signal through the display screen; The portable single-cell transfer device includes a microfluidic chip body, the microfluidic chip body is internally provided with a main microfluid channel, a secondary microfluid channel, a culture solution cavity, a waste liquid cavity and an electrode for detecting the number of the single cells flowing out of the main microfluid channel, the electrode is arranged on the main microfluid channel, the culture solution cavity is communicated with the main microfluid channel through the secondary microfluid channel, and the waste liquid cavity is communicated with the main microfluid channel; one end of the secondary microfluid channel is provided with a capture groove for clamping a single cell; the culture solution cavity and the waste liquid cavity are respectively provided with a liquid port and an outlet, and the liquid port and the outlet are both connected with a power device; The diameter of the capture groove is smaller than the diameter of the cell. The power device is a peristaltic pump.

2. A transfer gun comprising a portable single-cell transfer device according to claim 1, characterized in that The button controls the working state of the peristaltic pump through the circuit board.

3. A transfer gun comprising a portable single-cell transfer device according to claim 2, wherein The circuit board receives the pulse signal of the electrode.

4. A transfer gun constructed from the portable single-cell transfer device according to claim 1, characterized by The inner wall of the main microfluid channel is provided with a groove, and the electrode is arranged in the groove.

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