Droplet sorting of large particles

Cytometric sorting based on the fluorescence lifetime of spectrally overlapping signals

Flow cytometry is a well-established and powerful high- throughput fluorescence measurement tool that also allows for the sorting and enrichment of subpopulations of cells expressing unique fluorescence signatures. Owing to the reliance on intensity-only signals, flow cytometry sorters cannot easily discriminate between fluorophores that spectrally overlap. In this paper we demonstrate a new method of cell sorting using a fluorescence lifetime-dependent methodology. This approach, referred to herein as phase-filtered cell sorting (PFCS), permits sorting based on the average fluorescence lifetime of a fluorophore by separating fluorescence signals from species that emit differing average fluorescence lifetimes. Using lifetime-dependent hardware, cells and microspheres labeled with fluorophores were sorted with purities up to 90%. PFCS is a practical approach for separating populations of cells that are stained with spectrally overlapping fluorophores or that have interfering autofluorescence signals.

Cell sorting in cancer research--diminishing degree of cell heterogeneity

Increasing evidence of intratumor heterogeneity and its augmentation due to selective pressure of microenvironment and recent achievements in cancer therapeutics lead to the need to investigate and track the tumor subclonal structure. Cell sorting of heterogeneous subpopulations of tumor and tumor-associated cells has been a long established strategy in cancer research. Advancement in lasers, computer technology and optics has led to a new generation of flow cytometers and cell sorters capable of high-speed processing of single cell suspensions. Over the last several years cell sorting was used in combination with molecular biological methods, imaging and proteomics to characterize primary and metastatic cancer cell populations, minimal residual disease and single tumor cells. It was the principal method for identification and characterization of cancer stem cells. Analysis of single cancer cells may improve early detection of tumors, monitoring of circulating tumor cells, evaluation of intratumor heterogeneity and chemotherapeutic treatments. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of major cell sorting applications and approaches with new prospective developments such as microfluidics and microchip technologies.

Monoclonal tobacco cell lines with enhanced recombinant protein yields can be generated from heterogeneous cell suspension cultures by flow sorting

Plant cell suspension cultures can be used for the production of recombinant pharmaceutical proteins, but their potential is limited by modest production levels that may be unstable over long culture periods, reflecting initial culture heterogeneity and subsequent genetic and epigenetic changes. We used flow sorting to generate highly productive monoclonal cell lines from a heterogeneous population of tobacco BY-2 cells expressing the human antibody M12 by selecting the co-expressed fluorescent marker protein DsRed located on the same T-DNA. Separation yielded ∼35% wells containing single protoplasts and ∼15% wells with monoclonal microcolonies that formed within 2 weeks. Thus, enriching the population of fluorescent cells from initially 24% to 90-96% in the six monoclonal lines resulted in an up to 13-fold increase in M12 production that remained stable for 10-12 months. This is the first straightforward procedure allowing the generation of monoclonal plant cell suspension cultures by flow sorting, greatly increasing the potential of plant cells as an economical platform for the manufacture of recombinant pharmaceutical proteins.

Optimizing the setup of a flow cytometric cell sorter for efficient quantitative sorting of long filamentous cyanobacteria

Heterogeneity within natural phytoplankton communities makes it very difficult to analyze parameters at the single-cell level. Flow cytometric sorting is therefore a useful tool in aquatic sciences, as it provides material for post-sort analysis and culturing. Sorting subpopulations from natural communities, however, often requires handling morphologically diverse and complex particles with various abundances. Long particles, such as filament-forming cyanobacteria (>100-μm long), prove very difficult to handle. These potentially toxic organisms are widespread in eutrophic systems and have important ecological consequences. Being able to sort filamentous cyanobacteria efficiently and as viable cells is therefore highly desirable when studying factors associated with their toxicity and occurrence. This unconventional sorting requires extensive user experience and special instrument setup. We have investigated the effect of hydrodynamic and electromechanical components of a flow cytometer, and sorting protocol on the quantitative sorting efficiency of these long particles using two filamentous cyanobacterial strains with average lengths of ∼100 and ∼300 μm. Sorting efficiency ranged from 9.4 to 96.0% and was significantly affected by filament length, sorting envelope, drop delay (dd), and for the long species also by tip size, but not by cycle time. Filaments survived sorting and were not damaged. The optimal settings found for the modular MoFlo® cell-sorter to sort the filaments were a 100-μm flow tip at 30 psi (207 kPa) with a three-droplet envelope in Enrich mode while using an extended analysis time of 17.6 μs and an intermediate plate charge and deflection percentage combination of 3,000 V/60%, combined with a dd 0 for the cultures with 100-μm filaments and dd +1 for the culture with 300-μm filaments. To the best of our knowledge, the filaments up to 1063.5 μm sorted in this study are the longest ever sorted.

Particle size limits when using optical trapping and deflection of particles for sorting using diode laser bars

We explore a simple, inexpensive approach to large particle manipulation using diode laser bar optical trapping. This method overcomes limitations that prevent conventional point laser traps from effectively directing large particles. Expanding a previously developed line optical trap model into larger particle regimes, we verify and examine the advantages and limitations of diode laser bar trapping for manipulating particles greater than 100 microm in diameter within fluidic environments for biochemical, biological, and biomedical applications.

Spectral measurements of large particles by flow cytometry

Flow cytometers designed to analyze large particles are enabling new applications in biology and chemistry. Similarly, flow spectroscopy approaches are extending the capabilities of the flow cytometry platform. Here, we report on the adaptation of a commercial large particle analyzer to measure fluorescence and Raman spectra of individual particles at high speeds. We modified a Union Biometrica COPAS Plus instrument to allow red excitation and optical fiber-based light collection and spectral analysis using a spectrograph and CCD array detector. These modifications did not compromise the ability of the instrument to resolve different sized particles based on their extinction and time of flight signals. The modified instrument has the sensitivity and spectral resolution to measure the fluorescence and Raman signals from individual particles with signal integration times of 10 usec. The high speed spectral analysis of individual particles in flow will enable new applications in biological and chemical analyses.

General concepts about cell sorting techniques

Research involving cell analysis frequently requires isolation of certain cell types or subcellular components either as a final objective or as a preparative tool for further assays. At present, there are a high number of cell sorting methods that are suitable for being used in the clinical laboratory. These methods can be divided into two major groups: (1) bulk sorters and (2) single-cell-based sorters. This latter group mainly refers to fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) by flow cytometry (FCM). In both cases, separation of cell subsets is based on their classification according to one or more cell characteristics. In bulk sorters, cell classification and sorting are usually achieved in a single step; by contrast, in FACS techniques, these two steps are independent sequential processes. In addition, bulk sorters generally use a single-cell characteristic to isolate cell subsets and have a higher throughput rate, as compared with FACS by FCM, where several parameters can be used simultaneously to classify cells for their further isolation. As a consequence of the mechanisms underlying these two cell sorting methods, the balance between cell purity and cell recovery on the sorted fraction are generally different, the single-cell-based methods usually providing both a higher purity and recovery. Thus, in practice, bulk separation methods are frequently used either as a preparative step for FCM-based cell sorting or for the enrichment of the sample in specific cell subsets, when a higher throughput rate is required; in contrast, FACS by FCM is selected for the isolation of cell subsets when a high purity and, especially, recovery of a specific subpopulation of cells present in a sample are needed.

A rapid mix flow cytometer with subsecond kinetic resolution

Kinetic approaches are valuable tools for mechanistic studies of cell function. Flow cytometry is well suited to make sensitive kinetic measurements, but the time required to deliver mixed samples to the point of measurement (10-20 s in a conventional cytometer) limits analysis of rapidly occurring events. To address this limitation, we adapted a syringe-based stopped-flow rapid mixing device to a modified commercial flow cytometer to achieve mixing and measurement of sample in under 1 s. Because such screw-driven mixers are designed to deliver fluid at rates of microliters per millisecond and cytometers accept samples at microliters per second, the syringe mixer was modified with a screw to allow sample delivery at rates as low as 1.8 microliters/s. A custom-made nozzle holder featuring a fast-acting three-way sample delivery valve and a 1.5- microliters dead volume was designed for a Becton Dickinson FACS stream-in-air flow nozzle. Syringe motors and valves are computer controlled, as is the start signal for an adjustable time ramp. A stable sample stream can be established within the sheath stream in less than 1 s, enabling fluorescence measurements of microspheres with coefficients of variation of approximately 5%. Light scatter gating to select particles in the center of the laser beam enables fluorescence measurements at times of under 300 ms. Efficient mixing of reagents is demonstrated by the iodide quenching of microspheres surface labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). The instrument is capable of quantitatively proportioning cells and reagent, thereby allowing precise control of reagent concentration and dilution. Rapid kinetic measurements of intact cells are demonstrated by FITC-formyl peptide binding to cell surface receptors.

Use of xantham gum to suspend large particles during flow cytometric analysis and sorting

In this report we describe the use of xantham gum as a biologically inert material for increasing the viscosity of a suspension of cells or particles during flow cytometric analysis and sorting. A 0.1% concentration of xantham gum in culture medium or saline will increase the viscosity approximately 9-fold. For suspensions of multicellular spheroids 100-400 microns in diameter the measured sedimentation velocity was approximately 9 times slower than that in medium alone. Thus, spheroids of 100 microns diameter remain in suspension in 0.1% xantham gum for 66 min, compared to 7.5 min in culture medium. This allows extended periods of sorting without stirring or agitating the sample suspension. The xantham gum solution is noncytotoxic for periods up to 8 h as measured by clonogenicity assay. Xantham gum has the added advantage that the viscosity is significantly reduced when the solution is subjected to shear stress, such as during flow. This technique should be applicable to extended sorting of suspensions of spheroids, plant cells, and other large particles, as well as for analyzing and sorting single cells for extended periods.

High-speed photodamage cell selection using bromodeoxyuridine/Hoechst 33342 photosensitized cell killing

One of the major drawbacks of droplet sorting in a flow cytometer is the relatively low sorting speed. Thus, we have developed an alternative, faster sorting technique: photodamage cell sorting. In a photodamage cell sorter all unwanted cells, as detected with the first, measuring laser, are killed with the second, damaging laser. Thus, the cells need to be photosensitive to the second laser. In addition, a mechanism is needed to switch this laser on and off based on the sorting criteria. In our photodamage cell sorter, the ZAPPER, we use an acousto-optic crystal to switch the laser beam. Cells are made photosensitive by vital staining with photosensitizers. With cells grown in the presence of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdUrd) and stained with Hoechst 33342 (H42) at least a 5-decade cell reduction is accomplished after irradiation with 400 mW UV light. With this system, sorting rates have been achieved of 30,000 cells per second. Due to the selection based on photodynamic killing, this sorting technique is restricted to the selection of viable cells. Photodamage cell sorting seems well suited for isolating viable cells occurring in low percentages or for the sorting of large numbers of cells. Another application can be the sorting of large or fragile cells.

Viable sorting of intact multicellular spheroids by flow cytometry

A flow cytometric method has been developed for sorting viable, intact multicellular spheroids in order to obtain uniformly-sized populations with diameters in the range of 50-100 microns. A FACS II instrument was modified for this purpose by installing a 200-microns-diameter exit orifice and by making adjustments in the sheath flow, oscillator frequency, and number of droplets sorted. Polystyrene microspheres (44 and 88 microns diameter) and 41-96-microns-diameter spheroids could be sorted and recovered with 70-100% efficiency, an improvement over previous reports. Unstained, viable spheroids were simultaneously analyzed for small-angle forward light scatter, 90 degree light scatter, and autofluorescence using a 488-nm laser operating at 100 mW. Analysis of the data demonstrated a considerable variation in both the 90 degrees light scatter and the autofluorescence signals for a given forward angle light scattering signal. By setting narrow sort windows on the forward angle light scattering signal and either the 90 degree light scatter or autofluorescence signals, uniformly spherical spheroid populations could be recovered. These sorted populations had coefficients of variation of the mean diameter in the range of 5-9%. This represents a variation of less than one cell diameter, and is a major improvement over any other technique. There was no significant difference in the subsequent growth rates of sorted spheroids compared to the unsorted spheroids. This technique will apply when uniform populations of small spheroids are required, such as investigations of the contact effect or in the initiation of growth curve studies.

Factors governing the flow cytometric analysis and sorting of large biological particles

We have investigated the suitability of large flow cell tips for the flow cytometric analysis and sorting of large biological particles, including plant cells (pollen) and protoplasts. Using flow tips ranging in diameter from 79-204 micron, we have optimized conditions for the establishment of a stable hydrodynamic flow leading to accurate droplet production. We describe instrument modifications required for large particle sorting and demonstrate the use of these experimental conditions for the sorting to high purity of pollen and viable plant protoplasts possessing diameters as large as 95 micron. Our experiments have revealed a complex interaction among sorting efficiency, particle diameter, flow cell tip diameter and bimorphic crystal drive frequency. This interaction can be satisfactorily explained in terms of interference effects owing to phase differences between the particle-induced disturbance and the undulation driven by the bimorphic crystal.