An opto-fluidic architecture for image-based sorting of biological cells and particles

Abstract

The present state of technology provides limited practical options for viably sorting and capturing biological cells based on visual information. This thesis presents a novel opto-fluidic architecture which enables potentially viable image-based cell sorting. The architecture combines a trivially-fabricated microfluidic device with a laser and simple support optics to create a platform which enables user-friendly, intuitive, image-based sorting of cells. The microfluidic device contains a microfabricated array of poly-(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) wells which are used to passively array cells for visual inspection using any microscopy method (phase, fluorescence, etc.). After inspecting cells, the architecture allows capture of cells of interest by allowing exertion of radiation pressure onto a target cell via the integrated laser, levitating the cell from the well array, and into the flow-field of the microfluidic device for downstream collection and isolation. This thesis presents the design, fabrication, and testing of the platform, and presents a plan for integration of the system into a typical upright microscope.