Fluidic Force Microscopy: a Versatile Technology for Single-Cell Biology
Event details
| Date | 08.09.2016 |
| Hour | 11:00 |
| Speaker | Orane Guillaume-Gentil, Ph.D., ETHZ, Zürich (CH) |
| Location | |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
BIOENGINEERING SEMINAR
Abstract:
While single-cell studies can provide unique insights into cellular function, cell-cell communication, and cell response to external stimuli, innovative approaches are required to achieve tailored perturbations and analyses with single-cell resolution. In this respect, we are developing novel strategies to selectively perturb, isolate, or analyse single cells within physiological environments, using fluidic force microscopy (FluidFM). FluidFM combines atomic force microscopy with microfluidics via microchanneled cantilevers with nano-sized apertures. The cantilever probes can be positioned with nanometre precision and interact with targeted cells with piconewton sensitivity, whereas pressure control through the microchannel enables liquid handling with femtolitre resolution. We demonstrated a broad spectrum of single-cell applications, including the delivery of bioactive compounds (enzymes, DNA, drugs) or even microorganisms such as single viruses onto or into selected cells within confluent monolayers. Recently, we achieved non-destructive sampling of tunable fractions of cytoplasm or nucleoplasm from single live cells for subsequent molecular imaging, enzyme activity assay, and transcriptional analyses. The developed FluidFM-based approaches open unprecedented opportunities to study cellular dynamics and cell-cell communication with single-cell resolution under physiological conditions.
Bio:
2006 – 2010
PhD Student, ETH Zürich, Laboratory of Biosensors & Bioelectronics
February 2011 – present
Post Doc, ETH Zurich, Institute of Microbiology
Abstract:
While single-cell studies can provide unique insights into cellular function, cell-cell communication, and cell response to external stimuli, innovative approaches are required to achieve tailored perturbations and analyses with single-cell resolution. In this respect, we are developing novel strategies to selectively perturb, isolate, or analyse single cells within physiological environments, using fluidic force microscopy (FluidFM). FluidFM combines atomic force microscopy with microfluidics via microchanneled cantilevers with nano-sized apertures. The cantilever probes can be positioned with nanometre precision and interact with targeted cells with piconewton sensitivity, whereas pressure control through the microchannel enables liquid handling with femtolitre resolution. We demonstrated a broad spectrum of single-cell applications, including the delivery of bioactive compounds (enzymes, DNA, drugs) or even microorganisms such as single viruses onto or into selected cells within confluent monolayers. Recently, we achieved non-destructive sampling of tunable fractions of cytoplasm or nucleoplasm from single live cells for subsequent molecular imaging, enzyme activity assay, and transcriptional analyses. The developed FluidFM-based approaches open unprecedented opportunities to study cellular dynamics and cell-cell communication with single-cell resolution under physiological conditions.
Bio:
2006 – 2010
PhD Student, ETH Zürich, Laboratory of Biosensors & Bioelectronics
February 2011 – present
Post Doc, ETH Zurich, Institute of Microbiology
Practical information
- Informed public
- Free