DEP-Wells: a New Paradigm for Cell Separation and Analysis
Event details
Date | 24.10.2016 |
Hour | 10:15 › 11:15 |
Speaker | Professor Michael P. Hughes, University of Surrey, Guildford (UK) |
Location | |
Category | Conferences - Seminars |
BIOENGINEERING SEMINAR
Abstract:
Dielectrophoresis (DEP) was shown to discriminate between cells according to their electrical properties, and separate them, fifty years ago. Numerous technological developments have since improved the sensitivity of cell analysis, or the throughput of cell separators, but none have reached the throughput of more common cell analysis platforms such as flow cytometry/FACS. We have developed a new paradigm for DEP cell separation and manipulation based on interleaved conductors and insulators, through which “wells” are then formed. Cells within these wells experience attraction the sides or repulsion into the centre. The rate of movement, if measured for the cell ensemble, can yield the net properties of the population at the energising frequency; alternatively, if cells are passed through the well, they can be separated. Studies show unprecedented levels of accuracy and throughput; analyses of 20,000 cells can be determined in 10 seconds, with up to four subpopulations being detectable. 100-point spectra can be produced in minutes, for unprecedented accuracy. Blood can be analysed within seconds of drawing. Applications range from IC50 measurement to the study of apoptosis, for cancer diagnosis to new findings in circadian biology. We have also separated mixtures of live and dead yeast, or blood and cancer cells, at rates of up to 150,000 cells/second. 100 million cells can be sorted in 15 minutes, with separation efficiencies and purities of 95% and cell losses of 5%, without the use of labels. Collectively, these technologies have the potential to make DEP a future staple of laboratory practice.
Bio:
Hailing from Holy Island off the Welsh coast, Professor Michael Pycraft Hughes was appointed Professor of Biomedical Engineering in 2008 after joining the University of Surrey as a lecturer in 1999. His 20-year research career has focussed on the development of dielectrophoresis (DEP) – a force causing particles to move in non-uniform electric fields. His work relates primarily to the development of DEP-based assays. DEP can be used to analyse, and selectively move or separate micro- and nano-particles, and has been applied to cancer cells, bacteria, stem cells, yeast, DNA, viruses, carbon nanotubes and nanowires, and which has led to the founding of a spin-out company to commercialise DEP technology (see “research interests” below). He also has broader interests in electric fields and cells at the microscale, and has published work with DSTL on sensor enhancement using microfluidics (which resulted in three patent applications), microelectrode devices for neural sensing, and simulations of laser removal of tattoos. He has written or co-written over 50 journal publications (making him one of the most published authors in the field of DEP) and two books, and has presented invited talks in the UK, US, France, Spain, China and India. He has been the Editor in Chief of IEEE Transactions on Nanobioscience since 2008 (Senior Editor 2005-2007), and serves as committee member for the Institute of Physics Dielectrics Society, the IEEE Nanotechnology Council, the International Council for Science Working Group on Nanomaterials, and the Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Since 2008, Mike has been Director of the Centre for Biomedical Engineering at the University of Surrey, one of the oldest since centres in the world (the first appointment having been made in 1965). From 2008-2012, he also acted as Course Director of the MSc programme in Biomedical Engineering at Surrey (running since 1966) and from 2001-12 acted as course lead for the B/MEng Medical Engineering programmes.
Abstract:
Dielectrophoresis (DEP) was shown to discriminate between cells according to their electrical properties, and separate them, fifty years ago. Numerous technological developments have since improved the sensitivity of cell analysis, or the throughput of cell separators, but none have reached the throughput of more common cell analysis platforms such as flow cytometry/FACS. We have developed a new paradigm for DEP cell separation and manipulation based on interleaved conductors and insulators, through which “wells” are then formed. Cells within these wells experience attraction the sides or repulsion into the centre. The rate of movement, if measured for the cell ensemble, can yield the net properties of the population at the energising frequency; alternatively, if cells are passed through the well, they can be separated. Studies show unprecedented levels of accuracy and throughput; analyses of 20,000 cells can be determined in 10 seconds, with up to four subpopulations being detectable. 100-point spectra can be produced in minutes, for unprecedented accuracy. Blood can be analysed within seconds of drawing. Applications range from IC50 measurement to the study of apoptosis, for cancer diagnosis to new findings in circadian biology. We have also separated mixtures of live and dead yeast, or blood and cancer cells, at rates of up to 150,000 cells/second. 100 million cells can be sorted in 15 minutes, with separation efficiencies and purities of 95% and cell losses of 5%, without the use of labels. Collectively, these technologies have the potential to make DEP a future staple of laboratory practice.
Bio:
Hailing from Holy Island off the Welsh coast, Professor Michael Pycraft Hughes was appointed Professor of Biomedical Engineering in 2008 after joining the University of Surrey as a lecturer in 1999. His 20-year research career has focussed on the development of dielectrophoresis (DEP) – a force causing particles to move in non-uniform electric fields. His work relates primarily to the development of DEP-based assays. DEP can be used to analyse, and selectively move or separate micro- and nano-particles, and has been applied to cancer cells, bacteria, stem cells, yeast, DNA, viruses, carbon nanotubes and nanowires, and which has led to the founding of a spin-out company to commercialise DEP technology (see “research interests” below). He also has broader interests in electric fields and cells at the microscale, and has published work with DSTL on sensor enhancement using microfluidics (which resulted in three patent applications), microelectrode devices for neural sensing, and simulations of laser removal of tattoos. He has written or co-written over 50 journal publications (making him one of the most published authors in the field of DEP) and two books, and has presented invited talks in the UK, US, France, Spain, China and India. He has been the Editor in Chief of IEEE Transactions on Nanobioscience since 2008 (Senior Editor 2005-2007), and serves as committee member for the Institute of Physics Dielectrics Society, the IEEE Nanotechnology Council, the International Council for Science Working Group on Nanomaterials, and the Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Since 2008, Mike has been Director of the Centre for Biomedical Engineering at the University of Surrey, one of the oldest since centres in the world (the first appointment having been made in 1965). From 2008-2012, he also acted as Course Director of the MSc programme in Biomedical Engineering at Surrey (running since 1966) and from 2001-12 acted as course lead for the B/MEng Medical Engineering programmes.
Practical information
- Informed public
- Free
Organizer
Contact
- Institute of Bioengineering (IBI, Christina Mattsson)