U.S. research develops new system for separating cells using lasers

, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has developed a new system to isolate certain cells from samples using a low-cost laserThe system, which can isolate more than 10,000 cells from ordinary glass slides, will help researchers easily complete many previously impossible biological experimentsMoreover, compared with other cell separation methods, the system is fast, simple to operate and inexpensiveThe findings appear in the December 15 issue of the Journal of Analytical ChemistryPreviously, cell separation systems mixed the sample with markers that reacted with a specific protein or other ingredient, and then separated the cells depending on whether the sample emits fluorescenceThe new system will perform more detailed cell separation based on the response of certain parts of the cellIn addition, the system can isolate cells according to the speed of the reaction and the length of duration, which is not possible with traditional separation methodsThe new system uses only a thin layer of transparent silicone fixed to a regular glass slideThere are many small holes in the silicon layer, allowing cells in the sample solution to precipitate in themSuch a modified slide could help researchers isolate tens of thousands of cellsWith a microscope, researchers or computer systems can carefully see if cells emit fluorescence in a particular area or at a timeOnce the cells that emit fluorescence are found, the computer automatically records their locationAll the recorded cells will then emerge from the hole under the action of the laser beam, and the cells will eventually be washed away by liquid and collected in the containerThe system's developers say a laser beam is used to lift cells out of the hole, like using water from a fire hose to propel an inflatable ballBut the laser is very soft and does not damage cellsUnlike expensive separation technologies such as photonics, the system costs only a few thousand dollars and can be used in biological laboratories and clinical research facilitiesThe researchers expect the system to play an important role in clinical trials and diagnostics, gene screening and cloning research