Flow-lysometry for cytoplasmic analysis of single cells in large populations

Abstract

Presented is a single-cell analyser to measure cytoplasmic components in large cell populations. This technology, flow-lysometry, uses a flow-cell that performs three functions (cell detection, cell lysis and component sensing) in a continuous microfluidic channel. This flow-cell can be coupled and synchronised with classical flowcytometry, thus offering high-throughput measurements of various cytoplasmic compounds in combination with cell-surface markers. The measurement of cytoplasmic markers in the cytosol of red blood cells was shown to verify population analysis of individual cells in mixed-cell populations. This work presents an approach to characterise complex cell populations to extend measurements in cell biology.