Microfluidic platform for large-scale single-cell sequencing and imaging
This technology is a platform for high-throughput single-cell RNA sequencing and imaging that combines a highly scalable microfluidic platform and imaging based on optical cell-identifying barcodes.
Unmet Need: High-throughput methods for combined sequencing and imaging of single cells
Analysis of single cells is indispensable for understanding cellular physiology and response to drugs and other stimuli. Single-cell RNA sequencing is emerging as a high-dimensional tool for assessing cellular heterogeneity at the transcriptomic level, but many aspects of cell phenotype cannot be assessed from the transcriptome alone. Single-cell imaging using optical microscopy allows for further observation of cellular features, but current methods for merging these two modalities are expensive, low throughput, and incompatible with short-term cell culture and stimulation.
The Technology: Scalable microfluidic platform for large-scale integration of single-cell imaging and sequencing
This technology is a highly scalable platform for linked single-cell RNA sequencing and live-cell imaging. It uses a microwell array system to pair individual cells with mRNA capture beads that introduce unique cell-identifying optical barcodes. The system can then associate the single-cell transcriptome captured on each bead with the phenotypic information obtained by imaging the cells associated with each bead. The system features a simple microfluidic device with no complex valves or moving mechanical parts, can capture mRNA from thousands of individual cells in parallel at a cost of only $0.10 per cell, and is compatible with standard fluorescence microscopes.
Applications:
- Drug discovery and screening platform
- Tumor microenvironment studies
- Neurobiology and brain mapping
- Immune cell profiling
- Embryonic developmental mapping
- Stem cell fate profiling
- Research tool for studying cellular heterogeneity
- Single-cell atlas construction
Advantages:
- High-throughput
- Cost-effective
- Automatable
- Compatible with standard fluorescence microscopes
Lead Inventor:
Patent Information:
Patent Pending (US20240240241)
Related Publications:
Tech Ventures Reference:
IR CU15277, CU16248, CU18158, CU18391
Licensing Contact: Cynthia Lang