Integrated optical cell analysis & cell sorting

Junior Research Group of Dr. Timo Mappes

Microfluidic integrated system for marker-free optical cell analyses and cell sorting

The goal of this project is to demonstrate a miniaturised system which allows marker-free optical analyses and sorting at cell level with a minimum amount of analyte. Particles are guided through the optical resonator of a semiconductor laser diode, integrated on a microfluidic platform out of polymer and glass. Particles can be detected by evaluation of different laser parameters e.g. wavelength shift or threshold current. Furthermore, through a change in the power between the transverse modes, the morphology of particles can be detected by changes in the mode pattern. After analysing the particle, integrated optical traps are used for sorting the particles. Such a system shall be an alternative for FACS- (fluorescence-activated cell sorting) devices and offers the possibility for point-of-care-diagnostics in a hand-held unit. The participating groups are fabricating all elements of this device in house, including the tailor-made laser diodes. Within this project first prototypes of the modul will be created and characterized.