Entwicklung einer Mikrochip navigierten Zellsortieranlage

Cell sorting is broadly utilized in the field of medical diagnosis of cancer, HIV infections or malaria. Further more researchers frequently apply the technique to investigate the biology of stem cells or to develop therapies against neurodegenerative diseases [1]. Currently flow cytometry is the state of the art procedure to cope with cell separation tasks. In comparison to these commonly used systems, which rely on a serial sorting concept, the microchip based cell sorting device promises an increasing sorting velocity due to a parallel cell throughput, a more sensitive cell treatment and an improved protection against biohazardous materials by encapsulating the sorting process in a microfluidic channel. The planned sorting device should be capable to sort droplets, which contain fluorescent cells by using the electrowetting effect. We present preliminary fluorescent microscopic investigations on a microfluidic system to demonstrate first separation events of different fluorescent labelled beads. In addition a concept of the intended microchip will be introduced