On-Chip Transportation and Measurement of Mechanical Characteristics of Oocytes in an Open Environment

Micromachines

Kou Nakahara¹  Shinya Sakuma²  Takeshi Hayakawa²  Fumihito Arai² 

[1] Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-Cho, Chikusa-Ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan;

关键词: cell mechanical characteristics;    cell manipulation;    open-chip;    oocyte;    robot;   

DOI  :  10.3390/mi6050648

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

We propose a system that transports oocytes and measures their mechanical characteristics in an open environment using a robot integrated microfluidic chip (chip). The cells are transported through a micropillar array in the chip, and their characteristics are measured by a mechanical probe and a force sensor. Because the chip has an open microchannel, important cells such as oocytes are easily introduced and collected without the risk for losing them. In addition, any bubbles trapped in the chip, which degrade the measurement precision, are easily removed. To transport the oocytes through the open microchannel, we adopt a transportation technique based on a vibration-induced flow. Under this flow, oocytes arrive at the measurement point, where their mechanical characteristics are determined. We demonstrate the introduction, transportation, measurement of mechanical characteristics, and collection of oocytes using this system.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.