Title:  Multimodal Electronic Cell Phenotyping via Multiplexed Impedance Sensors

Committee: 

Dr. Sarioglu, Advisor    

Dr. Frazier, Chair

Dr. Degertekin

Abstract: The objective of the proposed research is to develop a microfluidic biochip which utilizes a multi-parallel set of channels with micro-constrictions in order to measure the mechanical properties of a sample cell population. Designing the channels to operate in parallel and compressing the electrical readout into two outputs enables this approach to perform high-throughput cell sample characterization on a portable device. Cell mechanical properties serve as biomarkers, complementary to traditional markers, that can provide important information revealing abnormalities or malignancies. However, measurements of these properties are currently underutilized because existing mechanophenotyping techniques are either resource-intensive or low-throughput. To overcome these barriers to use, we developed a low-cost portable microchip-based assay that measures cells’ viscoelastic properties at rates currently only achievable by bulkier and more complex instrumentation. This rapid, affordable measurement technique can be used to obtain statistically significant numbers of measurements at the point of care. Furthermore, the ability to routinely probe cell mechanics can contribute to our understanding of their role in disease pathophysiology and eventually cement them alongside established chemical biomarkers as tools with specific research and medical applications.