Devices and methods for cytogenetic analysis

Abstract

Genome whole chromosome analysis is a critical gold standard method for clinicians to study molecular lesions at single cell level in diseases and cancers. However, they suffer from low-sample-yielding, labor-intensive procedures that require subjective manual involvement of highly trained professionals. Here we disclose new devices, systems, and methods to automate, standardize, and accelerate the digital cytopathological sample and data generation with improved data quality to enable precision medicine and improve clinical practice. This disclosure describes a family of micro-fluidic devices, and accompanying methods for using said devices, to perform cytogenomic analysis on cells, nucleus, vesicles exosomes and their respective chromosomes, chromatins, nucleic acid polymers, subcellular genomic elements and any other dynamic transitional states between these forms. Collectively, these microfluidic devices allow for the consistent physical manipulation and preparation of macromolecules to substantially improve the quality of the of the cytogenetic information being interrogated.