Sensible Flow Cytometer Makes use of Clogging to Its Advantage

Japanese researchers have created a dynamic microfluidic channel that significantly enhances the efficiency of circulation cytometers.

Flow cytometry has enabled many breakthroughs in drugs and drug discovery. The method examines single cells by detecting the fluorescence from their chemical tags because the cells move by means of a laser beam. Most devices embrace a microfluidic channel, a slender passage that regulates the circulation of those tagged analytes. Because it permits speedy counting and evaluation on the single-cell stage, circulation cytometry has turn into a cornerstone of contemporary biomedical analysis.

A strong various, impedance circulation cytometry, replaces the laser with electrodes that sense modifications in electrical impedance (the full resistance {of electrical} tools to alternating present) as cells or particles transfer by means of the microfluidic channel. This strategy removes the necessity for fluorescent tags, which are sometimes costly and time-consuming to make use of. However, its sensitivity may be restricted and its readouts inconsistent, because the distance between flowing cells and the electrodes varies with channel top and particle measurement.

A New Adaptive Solution from NAIST

To fill this hole, a analysis crew led by Associate Professor Yalikun Yaxiaer from Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), Japan, developed an modern low-cost platform to beat these limitations. Their paper, printed within the journal Lab on a Chip, was co-authored by Mr. Trisna Julian, Dr. Naomi Tanga, Professor Yoichiroh Hosokawa from NAIST, and others.

The crew’s design aim was easy; they aimed to dynamically regulate the channel top relying on particle measurement. They realized this by attaching a metallic probe to the vertical axis of an XYZ stage—a laboratory machine that permits extremely exact actions in three dimensions. By controlling the vertical place of the probe, they used its skinny tip to press in opposition to the highest of the 30-micrometer-high microfluidic channel of the circulation cytometer. This compression squeezed the channel barely, altering its top on demand.

Through experiments and simulations, the crew confirmed that enabling the flowing particles to journey nearer to the sensing electrodes by lowering the channel’s top led to a outstanding enhance within the platform’s sensitivity and accuracy. They achieved a three-fold amplification of the impedance signal by reducing the channel height by one-third, while also reducing the signal variability to half, allowing them to easily distinguish between multiple cells of different sizes.

Turning Clogging into an Advantage

Notably, by introducing a camera and an object-detection algorithm, the researchers found a way to leverage clogging (unwanted deposition of particles that prevents further passage of analytes) as a strategy to optimize the platform’s performance. “Our system deliberately induces a critical constriction by deforming the channel to maximize sensitivity. However, this deformation can be released just before actual clogging occurs,” explains Dr. Yaxiaer. “Thus, our approach acts like a smart microchannel that harnesses and controls the clogging phenomena.”

Overall, this study establishes a much-needed foundation for the standardization of adaptive impedance flow cytometry, paving the way for its integration into clinical and research contexts where precise cell analyses are required.

“Our findings underscore the potential for a universal, high-performance impedance flow cytometry platform—one that is simple, clog-resistant, and adaptable for a wide range of biomedical applications,” concludes Dr. Yaxiaer. Collaborating with medical institutions could transform this innovative platform into a diagnostic device for point-of-care testing, and could also be leveraged for drug development and testing.

Reference: “A long-term universal impedance flow cytometry platform empowered by adaptive channel height and real-time clogging-release strategy” by Trisna Julian, Tao Tang, Naomi Tanga, Yang Yang, Yoichiroh Hosokawa and Yaxiaer Yalikun, 26 August 2025, Lab on a Chip.
DOI: 10.1039/D5LC00673B

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