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:

Peter A. Sims, Ph.D.

Patent Information:

Patent Pending (US20240240241)

Related Publications:

Tech Ventures Reference:

  • IR CU15277, CU16248, CU18158, CU18391

  • Licensing Contact: Cynthia Lang