Cell capture in microfluidic devices

A method of capturing target cells from a biological sample, said method comprising:

• inducing a flow of a biological sample comprising target cells in a flow channel of an upstream microfluidic device between a first end and a second end of said flow channel, said upstream microfluidic device comprises:
• a substrate having cell channels adapted to accommodate said target cells;
• a flow input channel having a first end and a second end;
• and
• a flow output channel in fluid connection with a fluid port, wherein a respective first end of said cell channels is in fluid connection with said flow input channel, a respective second end of said cell channels is in fluid connection with said flow output channel, and said cell channels comprise a respective obstruction designed to prevent said target cells from passing said respective obstruction and into said flow output channel;
• monitoring said cell channels to detect presence of target cells captured in said cell channels;
• when at least a minimum number of target cells are captured in said cell channels:
• reducing said flow of said biological sample in said flow channel;
• and
• applying a fluid medium at said fluid port of said upstream microfluidic device to release said target cells captured in said cell channels of said upstream microfluidic device and to enable transfer of said target cells into cell channels of a downstream microfluidic device, said downstream microfluidic device comprises:
• a substrate having said cell channels adapted to accommodate said target cells;
• a flow input channel having a first end and a second end;
• and
• a flow output channel in fluid connection with a fluid port, wherein a respective first end of said cell channels is in fluid connection with said flow input channel, a respective second end of said cell channels is in fluid connection with said flow output channel, and said cell channels comprise a respective obstruction designed to prevent said target cells from passing said respective obstruction and into said flow output channel.

A system for capturing target cells from a biological sample, said system comprising:

• an upstream microfluidic device comprising:
• a substrate having cell channels adapted to accommodate said target cells;
• a flow input channel having a first end and a second end;
• and
• a flow output channel in fluid connection with a fluid port, wherein a respective first end of said cell channels is in fluid connection with said flow input channel, a respective second end of said cell channels is in fluid connection with said flow output channel, and said cell channels comprise a respective obstruction designed to prevent said target cells from passing said respective obstruction and into said flow output channel;
• a downstream microfluidic device comprising:
• a substrate having cell channels adapted to accommodate said target cells;
• a flow input channel having a first end and a second end;
• and
• a flow output channel in fluid connection with a fluid port, wherein a respective first end of said cell channels is in fluid connection with said flow input channel, a respective second end of said cell channels is in fluid connection with said flow output channel, and said cell channels comprise a respective obstruction designed to prevent said target cells from passing said respective obstruction and into said flow output channel;
• a flow controller adapted to induce a flow of said biological sample comprising said target cells in a flow channel of said upstream microfluidic device between a first end and a second end of said flow channel;
• and
• a fluid connector adapted to interconnect, when at least a minimum number of target cells are captured in said cell channels of said upstream microfluidic device, said first end and/or said second end of said flow input channel of said upstream microfluidic device to said first end and/or said second end of said flow input channel of said downstream microfluidic device, wherein said flow controller is adapted to, when at least a minimum number of target cells are captured in said cell channels of said upstream microfluidic device:
• reduce said flow of said biological sample in said flow channel;
• and
• apply a fluid medium at said fluid port of said upstream microfluidic device to release said target cells captured in said cell channels of said upstream microfluidic device and transfer said target cells into said cell channels of said downstream microfluidic device.