US 12,553,819 B2 · Cell sorting and selection using degradable hydrogels

Abstract

Described herein are systems and methods for sorting and selecting cells by immobilizing or enclosing cells in degradable hydrogel chambers, including a method of sorting cells comprising: (a) providing a fluidics device comprising: (i) a channel comprising a surface, (ii) a spatial energy modulation element in optical communication with the surface, and (iii) a detector in optical communication with the surface and in operable association with the spatial energy modulating element, the detector identifying cells and determining positions thereof on the surface; (b) loading the channel with cells and one or more polymer precursors so that the cells are disposed on or adjacent to the surface; (c) immobilizing one or more cells selected based on one or more optical signals therefrom by synthesizing one or more gel structures enclosing each of the one or more cells by projecting light into the channel with the spatial energy modulating element such that the projected light causes cross-linking of the one or more polymer precursors to form gel structures, wherein the positions of the gel structures in the channel are determined by the positions of the cells enclosed thereby identified by the detector; and (d) removing from the channel unselected cells.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A method of sorting a plurality of cells, comprising:

(a) loading a fluidic device with the plurality of cells so that the plurality of cells are disposed on or adjacent to a surface of the fluidic device;
(b) introducing one or more polymer precursors into the fluidic device;
(c) selecting a subset of cells of the plurality of cells based on one or more optical signals from the subset of cells;
(d) determining positions of the subset of cells in the fluidic device using a detector, wherein the detector is in optical communication with the fluidic device;
(e) enclosing one or more cells of the subset of cells by synthesizing one or more gel structures in the fluidic device by projecting light into the fluidic device with a spatial energy modulating element such that the projected light causes polymerization of the one or more polymer precursors, thereby forming the one or more gel structures that enclose the one or more cells, wherein positions of the one or more gel structures in the fluidic device are determined by the positions of the subset of cells determined by the detector in (d);
(f) removing from the fluidic device unselected cells of the plurality of cells;
(g) performing an assay on the one or more cells enclosed in the one or more gel structures to obtain assay results for each of the one or more cells enclosed in the one or more gel structures;
and
(h) associating the assay results with the positions of the subset of cells determined in (d).

6 more elements

A method of sorting a plurality of cells, comprising:

(a) loading a fluidic device with the plurality of cells so that the plurality of cells are disposed on or adjacent to a surface of the fluidic device;
(b) introducing one or more polymer precursors into the fluidic device;
(c) selecting a subset of cells of the plurality of cells based on one or more optical signals from the subset of cells;
(d) determining positions of the subset of cells in the fluidic device using a detector, wherein the detector is in optical communication with the fluidic device;
(e) enclosing one or more cells of the subset of cells by synthesizing one or more gel structures in the fluidic device by projecting light into the fluidic device with a spatial energy modulating element such that the projected light causes polymerization of the one or more polymer precursors, thereby forming the one or more gel structures that enclose the one or more cells, wherein positions of the one or more gel structures in the fluidic device are determined by the positions of the subset of cells determined by the detector in (d);
(f) removing from the fluidic device unselected cells of the plurality of cells;
(g) selecting an additional subset of cells of the plurality of cells based on one or more additional optical signals from the additional subset of cells;
(h) determining positions of the additional subset of cells in the fluidic device using the detector;
and
(i) enclosing one or more additional cells of the additional subset of cells by synthesizing one or more additional gel structures in the fluidic device enclosing the one or more additional cells of the additional subset of cells by projecting light into the fluidic device with the spatial energy modulating element such that the projected light causes polymerization of the one or more polymer precursors, thereby forming the one or more additional gel structures, wherein positions of the one or more additional gel structures in the fluidic device are determined by the positions of the additional subset of cells.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cell sorting and selection using degradable hydrogels

Life of this patent

Cell sorting and selection using degradable hydrogels

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25