Issue 20, 2020

Positional dependence of particles and cells in microfluidic electrical impedance flow cytometry: origin, challenges and opportunities

Abstract

Microfluidic electrical impedance flow cytometry is now a well-known and established method for single-cell analysis. Given the richness of the information provided by impedance measurements, this non-invasive and label-free approach can be used in a wide field of applications ranging from simple cell counting to disease diagnostics. One of its major limitations is the variation of the impedance signal with the position of the cell in the sensing area. Indeed, identical particles traveling along different trajectories do not result in the same data. The positional dependence can be considered as a challenge for the accuracy of microfluidic impedance cytometers. On the other hand, it has recently been regarded by several groups as an opportunity to estimate the position of particles in the microchannel and thus take a further step in the logic of integrating sensors in so-called “Lab-on-a-chip” devices. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the physical grounds of the positional dependence of impedance measurements. Then, both the developed strategies to reduce position influence in impedance-based assays and the recent reported technologies exploiting that dependence for the integration of position detection in microfluidic devices are reviewed.

Graphical abstract: Positional dependence of particles and cells in microfluidic electrical impedance flow cytometry: origin, challenges and opportunities

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Critical Review
Submitted
15 Jun 2020
Accepted
21 Aug 2020
First published
04 Sep 2020

Lab Chip, 2020,20, 3665-3689

Positional dependence of particles and cells in microfluidic electrical impedance flow cytometry: origin, challenges and opportunities

H. Daguerre, M. Solsona, J. Cottet, M. Gauthier, P. Renaud and A. Bolopion, Lab Chip, 2020, 20, 3665 DOI: 10.1039/D0LC00616E

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