University of California

University Califnrnia

Pei-Yu E Chiou

Michael A Teitell

Ting-Hsiang Sherry Wu

Yu-Chun Kung

Kuo-Wei Huang

Ming C Wu

Yi-Chien Wu

Sung-Yong Park

Igor Y Khandros

Chi On Chui

Aaron T Ohta

Yajia Yang

Yufei Mao

Yu-Jui Fan

Yue Chen

Ming-Chiang Wu

Hsan-Yin Hsu

Arash Jamshidi

Ming-Yu Lin

Steven L Neale

Jessica Zhou

Tianxing Man

Xiongfeng Zhu

Xing Haw Marvin Tan

Thang Nguyen

Fan Xiao

Sheraz Kalim Butt

Yu-jui Fan

Ting-Hsiang Wu

Ting-Hsiang S Wu

Methods, devices, and systems are provided for the delivery of agents (e.g., nucleic acids, proteins, organic molecules, organelles, antibodies or other ligands, etc.) into live cells and/or the extraction of the same from said cells. In various embodiments the photothermal platforms and systems incorporating such photothermal platforms are provided that permit efficient, high-throughput cargo delivery into live cells.

High-throughput cargo delivery into live cells using photothermal platforms

In various embodiments, method and devices for delivering large cargos (e.g., organelles, chromosomes, bacteria, and the like) into cells are provided. In certain embodiments method of delivering a large cargo into eukaryotic cells, are provided that involve providing eukaryotic cells disposed on one side of a porous membrane; providing the cargo to be delivered in a solution disposed in a reservoir chamber on the opposite side of the porous membrane; and applying pressure to the reservoir chamber sufficient to pass the cargo through pores comprising said porous membrane wherein said cargo passes through cell membranes and into the cells.

Efficient delivery of large cargos into cells on a porous substrate

New platform technologies to actuate and sense force propagation in real-time for large sheets of cells are provided. In certain embodiments the platform comprises a device for the measurement of mechanical properties of cells or other moieties, where device comprises a transparent elastic or viscoelastic polymer substrate disposed on a rigid transparent surface; and a plurality of micromirrors disposed on or in said polymer substrate, wherein the reflective surfaces of the micromirrors are oriented substantially parallel to the surface of said polymer substrate. In certain embodiments the device comprises more than about 1,000,000, or more than about 10,000,000 micromirrors. In certain embodiments the micromirrors comprise a magnetic layer and/or a diffraction grating.

Single-pixel optical technologies for instantly quantifying multicellular response profiles

In certain embodiments a device is provided for electrorotation flow. In certain embodiments the device comprises a microfluidic channel comprising a plurality of electrodes disposed to provide dielectrophoretic (DEP) forces that are perpendicular to hydrodynamic flows along the channel; and a fluid within the channel providing the hydrodynamic flow along the channel; wherein the device is configured to apply focusing voltages to the electrodes that provide an electric field minimum in the channel and that focus cells, particles, and/or molecules or molecular complexes within the channel; and where the device is configured to apply rotation-inducing voltages to the electrodes that induce rotation of the cells, particles, molecules and/or molecular complexes as they flow through the channel.

Device for continuous focusing and rotation of biological cells and its use for high throughput electrorotation flow cytometery

A novel Self-Locking Optoelectronic Tweezers (SLOT) for single microparticle manipulation across a large area is provided. DEP forces generated from ring-shape lateral phototransistors are utilized for locking single microparticles or cells in the dark state. The locked microparticles or cells can be selectively released by optically deactivating these locking sites.

Self-locking optoelectronic tweezer and its fabrication

Microfluidic devices in which electrokinetic mechanisms move droplets of a liquid or particles in a liquid are described. The devices include at least one electrode that is optically transparent and/or flexible.

Microfluidic devices with flexible optically transparent electrodes

Methods, devices, and systems are provided for the delivery of agents (e.g., nucleic acids, proteins, organic molecules, organelles, antibodies or other ligands, 5 etc.) into live cells and/or the extraction of the same from said cells. In various embodiments the photothermal platforms and systems incorporating such photothermal platforms are provided that permit efficient, high-throughput cargo delivery into live cells.

A 3-dimensional PDMS cell sorter having multiple passages in a PDMS layer that follow the same path in a DEP separation region and that are in fluid communication with each other within that region. The passages may differ in width transverse to the flow direction within the passages. Flat plates may sandwich the PDMS layer; each plate may have a planar electrode used to generate a DEP field within a sample fluid flowed within the passages. The DEP field may concentrate target cells or particulates within one of the passages within the DEP separation region. The passages may diverge after the DEP-separation region, leaving one passage with a high concentration of target cells or particulates. Techniques for manufacturing such structures, as well as other micro-fluidic structures, are also provided.

Continuous whole-chip 3-dimensional DEP cell sorter and related fabrication method

In various embodiments methods are provided for delivering an agent of interest (e.g., protein, antibody, nucleic acid) into cells. In certain embodiments the method comprises contacting the cells with anisotropic magnetic particles in the presence of the agent; and applying a substantially uniform magnetic field to said magnetic particles where movement of said particles induced by said magnetic field introduces transient openings into said cell facilitating entry of said agent of interest into said cells.

Methods for efficient intracellular delivery using anisotropic magnetic particles

Methods and devices for the formation and/or merging of droplets in microfluidic systems are provided. In certain embodiments a microfluidic droplet merger component is provided that comprises a central channel comprising a plurality of elements disposed and spaced to create a plurality of lateral passages that drain a carrier fluid out of a fluid stream comprising droplets of a first fluid contained in the carrier fluid; and a deformable lateral membrane valve disposed to control the width of said center channel.

High-speed on demand microfluidic droplet generation and manipulation

In various embodiments a plasmonic cell force sensor platform is provided where the platform comprises a plurality of micropillars, where micropillars comprising the plurality of micropillars each have a nanoparticle (e.g., a plasmonic nanoparticle, a fluorescent nanoparticle, etc.) disposed at the tip.

Plasmonic micropillar array with embedded nanoparticles for large area cell force sensing

This invention provides novel tools for surgery on single cells and substrates/devices for delivery of reagents to selected cells. In certain embodiments the substrates comprise a surface comprising one or more orifices, where nanoparticles and/or a thin film is deposited on a surface of said orifice or near said orifice, where the nanoparticles and/or a thin film are formed of materials that heat up when contacted with electromagnetic radiation. In certain embodiments the pores are in fluid communication with microchannels containing one or more reagents to be delivered into the cells.

Photothermal substrates for selective transfection of cells

Methods and devices for the formation of droplets of a first fluid in a second fluid and the encapsulation of particles or cells within such droplets are disclosed. Impetus for droplet formation is provided by the creation of a transient bubble, which may be induced using a pulsed laser. Droplet volume and the frequency at which droplets are formed can be controlled by modulation of the pulsed laser. The disclosed methods and devices are particularly suitable for use in microfluidic devices.

Growing community of inventors

Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

Pei-Yu E Chiou