Single cell deposition and patterning with a robotic system.

Integrating single-cell manipulation techniques in traditional and emerging biological culture systems is challenging. Microfabricated devices for single cell studies in particular often require cells to be spatially positioned at specific culture sites on the device surface. This paper presents a r...

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Main Authors: Zhe Lu, Christopher Moraes, George Ye, Craig A Simmons, Yu Sun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2010-10-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/21042403/pdf/?tool=EBI
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author Zhe Lu
Christopher Moraes
George Ye
Craig A Simmons
Yu Sun
author_facet Zhe Lu
Christopher Moraes
George Ye
Craig A Simmons
Yu Sun
author_sort Zhe Lu
collection DOAJ
description Integrating single-cell manipulation techniques in traditional and emerging biological culture systems is challenging. Microfabricated devices for single cell studies in particular often require cells to be spatially positioned at specific culture sites on the device surface. This paper presents a robotic micromanipulation system for pick-and-place positioning of single cells. By integrating computer vision and motion control algorithms, the system visually tracks a cell in real time and controls multiple positioning devices simultaneously to accurately pick up a single cell, transfer it to a desired substrate, and deposit it at a specified location. A traditional glass micropipette is used, and whole- and partial-cell aspiration techniques are investigated to manipulate single cells. Partially aspirating cells resulted in an operation speed of 15 seconds per cell and a 95% success rate. In contrast, the whole-cell aspiration method required 30 seconds per cell and achieved a success rate of 80%. The broad applicability of this robotic manipulation technique is demonstrated using multiple cell types on traditional substrates and on open-top microfabricated devices, without requiring modifications to device designs. Furthermore, we used this serial deposition process in conjunction with an established parallel cell manipulation technique to improve the efficiency of single cell capture from ∼80% to 100%. Using a robotic micromanipulation system to position single cells on a substrate is demonstrated as an effective stand-alone or bolstering technology for single-cell studies, eliminating some of the drawbacks associated with standard single-cell handling and manipulation techniques.
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spelling doaj.art-50111027a1f34c128259c4434e76db7f2022-12-21T20:34:05ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032010-10-01510e1354210.1371/journal.pone.0013542Single cell deposition and patterning with a robotic system.Zhe LuChristopher MoraesGeorge YeCraig A SimmonsYu SunIntegrating single-cell manipulation techniques in traditional and emerging biological culture systems is challenging. Microfabricated devices for single cell studies in particular often require cells to be spatially positioned at specific culture sites on the device surface. This paper presents a robotic micromanipulation system for pick-and-place positioning of single cells. By integrating computer vision and motion control algorithms, the system visually tracks a cell in real time and controls multiple positioning devices simultaneously to accurately pick up a single cell, transfer it to a desired substrate, and deposit it at a specified location. A traditional glass micropipette is used, and whole- and partial-cell aspiration techniques are investigated to manipulate single cells. Partially aspirating cells resulted in an operation speed of 15 seconds per cell and a 95% success rate. In contrast, the whole-cell aspiration method required 30 seconds per cell and achieved a success rate of 80%. The broad applicability of this robotic manipulation technique is demonstrated using multiple cell types on traditional substrates and on open-top microfabricated devices, without requiring modifications to device designs. Furthermore, we used this serial deposition process in conjunction with an established parallel cell manipulation technique to improve the efficiency of single cell capture from ∼80% to 100%. Using a robotic micromanipulation system to position single cells on a substrate is demonstrated as an effective stand-alone or bolstering technology for single-cell studies, eliminating some of the drawbacks associated with standard single-cell handling and manipulation techniques.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/21042403/pdf/?tool=EBI
spellingShingle Zhe Lu
Christopher Moraes
George Ye
Craig A Simmons
Yu Sun
Single cell deposition and patterning with a robotic system.
PLoS ONE
title Single cell deposition and patterning with a robotic system.
title_full Single cell deposition and patterning with a robotic system.
title_fullStr Single cell deposition and patterning with a robotic system.
title_full_unstemmed Single cell deposition and patterning with a robotic system.
title_short Single cell deposition and patterning with a robotic system.
title_sort single cell deposition and patterning with a robotic system
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/21042403/pdf/?tool=EBI
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AT craigasimmons singlecelldepositionandpatterningwitharoboticsystem
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