Tokihiko Aoki

High-speed particles and biomolecules sorting microsystem using thermosensitive hydrogel

Two types of high-speed particle and biomolecule sheath flow sorters were realized using thermosensitive hydrogel. One is all hydrogel sheath flow and the other is two-phase sheath flow that consists of a water flow including samples and two hydrogel carrier flows; these have been utilized instead of the air and water droplet two-phase flow used in the conventional commercialized cell sorting system. Flow switching is performed by the sol–gel transfer of the thermosensitive hydrogel generated by focused infrared (IR) laser irradiation. High-speed sorting less than 5.0 ms and no error sorting (120 000 counts) in the all hydrogel sheath flow system while 20 ms in the two-phase sheath flow was realized. Since sorting was performed in simple PDMS-glass microchannels without any electric stimulation and mechanical valve structures, the proposed system is suitable for many biochemical applications.

High Speed Particles and Biomolecules Sorting Microsystem Using Thermosensitive Hydrogel and Water Two-Phase Flow

High speed particles and biomolecules sorter was realized using thermosensitive hydrogel and water two-phase sheath flow system. The two phase sheath flow consists of a water flow including samples and two hydrogel carrier flows is utilized instead of the air and water droplet two-phase flow used in the conventional commercialized cell sorter. Flow switching is performed by the sol-gel transfer of the thermosensitive hydrogel generated by the focused IR laser irradiation. High speed sorting less than 5.0 msec and no error sorting (3000 counts) was realized. Since sorting performed in simple PDMS-glass microchannels without any electric stimulation, the proposed system is suitable for bio-applications.