Label-Free Label-Free Cytometry and Cell Sorting
Dielectrophoresis (DEP) is a revolutionary technique for studying, characterising, and separating micro- or nano-scale objects, such as cells, bacteria, viruses, and proteins. But it had been held back due to a throughput and skill shortage… until now!
At DEPtech we pioneered a 3D approach to DEP devices that allows for rapid electrophysiology analysis within 10 seconds, diagnosis at POC, or high-throughput label-free GMP-compliant cell sorting far beyond the abilities and throughputs of conventional cell sorting.
GMP-Compliant Cell Sorting
Different cell types respond differently to DEP excitation. We use this mechanism to separate sub-populations, without requiring any labeling, fixation or treatments that would harm your cellular product.
A high-throughput FACS can sort at 7,000 cells per second whilst leaving fluorophores in your cells. MACS is faster but can only separate on surface markers, still leaving you with beads stuck to the surface. Viable cell losses can be up to 50%.
Our DEParator separates 300,000 cells a second with capacities towards a billion. Cell losses are below 10%. All this is label-free, in a compact device designed for a safety cabinet with minimal airflow disturbance, and using only a low-cost easily disposed consumable.
Cell Analysis
Cell electrophysiology tells you a lot about cell function. From resting membrane potential to cytoplasm conductance and membrane capacitance, understanding the ionic role in cell function and dysfunction can provide the missing link in biological research. But the only way of directly taking measurements like these was patch-clamp; expensive, highly skilled and complex, and ten cells a day if you’re lucky.
Enter the 3DEP. No bigger than a desktop PC, useable with only an hour’s training, and low-cost consumables. No labels to interfere with your measurements. Any cell type is just as easy – from bacteria to platelets to mammalian cells to cancer to giant cardiac myocytes, we’ve even gone as small as exosomes!
And it is fast. Ten cells a day? Try 20,000 in ten seconds. Multiple samples every minute. This is ten-second electrophysiology.
Contract Research
We can draw on over 70 years’ experience in the development of DEP technologies for the analysis, separation and concentration of cells, bacteria and nanoparticles. If you are interested in dielectrophoresis, or electrokinetic microfluidics, but are unsure about how to proceed, talk to us! If you have an idea for something in your own technology that would benefit from our existing technology, or would like us to custom design a bespoke electrokinetic solution, we have the tools and experience to help.
