Microfluidic Devices for the High-Throughput Chemical Analysis of Cells

A microfluidic device is reported that integrated cell handling, rapid cell lysis, and electrophoretic separation and detection of fluorescent cytosolic dyes. The device function was demonstrated using Jurkat cells that were loaded with the fluorogenic dyes - carboxyfluorescein diacetate, Oregon green carboxylic acid diacetate, or Calcein AM. The loaded cells were hydrodynamically transported from the cell-containing reservoir to a region on the microfluidic device where they were focused and then rapidly lysed using an electric field. Complete lysis was accomplished in 100 times faster than those reported using standard bench-scale capillary electrophoresis.