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PMID: 26213926 Published · epublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review

Technologies for Single-Cell Isolation.

International journal of molecular sciences ·Vol. 16 ·No. 8 ·2015-07-24 ·Pages 16897-919

Gross A, Schoendube J, Zimmermann S, Steeb M, Zengerle R, Koltay P

Abstract

The handling of single cells is of great importance in applications such as cell line development or single-cell analysis, e.g., for cancer research or for emerging diagnostic methods. This review provides an overview of technologies that are currently used or in development to isolate single cells for subsequent single-cell analysis. Data from a dedicated online market survey conducted to identify the most relevant technologies, presented here for the first time, shows that FACS (fluorescence activated cell sorting) respectively Flow cytometry (33% usage), laser microdissection (17%), manual cell picking (17%), random seeding/dilution (15%), and microfluidics/lab-on-a-chip devices (12%) are currently the most frequently used technologies. These most prominent technologies are described in detail and key performance factors are discussed. The survey data indicates a further increasing interest in single-cell isolation tools for the coming years. Additionally, a worldwide patent search was performed to screen for emerging technologies that might become relevant in the future. In total 179 patents were found, out of which 25 were evaluated by screening the title and abstract to be relevant to the field.

Keywords
flow cytometry laser microdissection limiting dilution microfluidics single-cell analysis single-cell handling single-cell separation single-cell technologies
MeSH Terms
Animals Cell Separation/methods Humans Marketing Patents as Topic Single-Cell Analysis/methods
Authors & Affiliations
6 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Gross Andre
Laboratory for MEMS Applications, IMTEK-Department of Microsystems Engineering, University of Freiburg, Georges-Koehler-Allee 103, Freiburg 79110, Germany. andre.gross@imtek.uni-freiburg.de. | Cytena GmbH, Georges-Koehler-Allee 103, Freiburg 79110, Germany. andre.gross@imtek.uni-freiburg.de.
Schoendube Jonas
Laboratory for MEMS Applications, IMTEK-Department of Microsystems Engineering, University of Freiburg, Georges-Koehler-Allee 103, Freiburg 79110, Germany. jonas.schoendube@imtek.uni-freiburg.de. | Cytena GmbH, Georges-Koehler-Allee 103, Freiburg 79110, Germany. jonas.schoendube@imtek.uni-freiburg.de.
Zimmermann Stefan
Laboratory for MEMS Applications, IMTEK-Department of Microsystems Engineering, University of Freiburg, Georges-Koehler-Allee 103, Freiburg 79110, Germany. stefan.zimmermann@imtek.uni-freiburg.de.
Steeb Maximilian
Laboratory for MEMS Applications, IMTEK-Department of Microsystems Engineering, University of Freiburg, Georges-Koehler-Allee 103, Freiburg 79110, Germany. maximilian.steeb@outlook.de.
Zengerle Roland
Laboratory for MEMS Applications, IMTEK-Department of Microsystems Engineering, University of Freiburg, Georges-Koehler-Allee 103, Freiburg 79110, Germany. Roland.Zengerle@imtek.uni-freiburg.de. | Hahn-Schickard, Georges-Koehler-Allee 103, Freiburg 79110, Germany. Roland.Zengerle@imtek.uni-freiburg.de. | BIOSS-Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg 79110, Germany. Roland.Zengerle@imtek.uni-freiburg.de.
Koltay Peter
Laboratory for MEMS Applications, IMTEK-Department of Microsystems Engineering, University of Freiburg, Georges-Koehler-Allee 103, Freiburg 79110, Germany. Peter.Koltay@imtek.uni-freiburg.de. | Cytena GmbH, Georges-Koehler-Allee 103, Freiburg 79110, Germany. Peter.Koltay@imtek.uni-freiburg.de.
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Article Info
Journal
International journal of molecular sciences
Abbr.
Int J Mol Sci
ISSN
1422-0067
DOI
10.3390/ijms160816897
Email
andre.gross@imtek.uni-freiburg.de
jonas.schoendube@imtek.uni-freiburg.de
stefan.zimmermann@imtek.uni-freiburg.de
maximilian.steeb@outlook.de
roland.zengerle@imtek.uni-freiburg.de
peter.koltay@imtek.uni-freiburg.de
Published
2015-07-24
Epub
2015-00-24
Pages
16897-919
Language
English
Region
Switzerland
NLM ID
101092791
PMCID
PMC4581176
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.3390/ijms160816897 PMC Full Text View journal details
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