Label-free High-throughput Multi-physical Cell Cytometer

Overview

Microfluidic cell cytometer using AI to measure size, elastic modulus and dielectric constant of single cells at a throughput matching that of commercial flow cytometry but without the need for cell labeling.

Research completion

2023

Commercialisation opportunities

Technology licensing agreement

Problem addressed

Mechanical and electrical properties exhibit cell phenotypes in different aspects. Multiparametric phenotyping of individual cells for both mechanical and electrical properties can achieve a more promising prognostic/diagnostic strategy.

Innovation

Cell elastic modulus are well known to be related to malignancy and invasiveness of tumor cells and immunological state of immune cells.
The electric permittivity reflects intercellular communication, cell adhesion, and nutrient absorption.
Using artificial intelligence to resolve the signal acquired from electrodes embedded under the microchannel, it can quantify uncoupled geometric (cell size), mechanical (elastic modulus) and electrical (dielectric constant) properties of each cell flowing in a microfluidic device, at a throughput comparable to the commercial flow cytometry.

Key impact

Label-free
Camera-free
High-throughput

Award

48th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva (IEIG) - Gold Medal

Application

Flow Cytometer
Cell sorting
Drug screening
Drug delivery

Patent

Filing number 63/304,477 (USA)
Filing number 18/161,005 (USA)

Website

City University of Hong Kong (CityU)

As one of the fastest growing universities in the world over the past decade, City University of Hong Kong (CityU) is recognised as a hub for innovation in research and professional education. CityU identifies solutions to critical global challenges by extending the frontiers of knowledge both within and beyond existing research paradigms.

The University’s highly qualified academics are drawn from all over the world, not only bringing a wealth of research and professional experience to the teaching programmes, but also contributing to the knowledge and technology advancement.

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