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SUMMARY:Single cells and single molecules in microdroplets - Dr Jung-uk Sh
 im\, Microdroplets Group\, Department of Chemistry
DTSTART:20091006T134500Z
DTEND:20091006T143000Z
UID:TALK20452@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Duncan Simpson
DESCRIPTION:Probing the behaviour of single cells in time-course is very i
 mportant to understand the heterogeneity of cells at given chemical condit
 ions\, provided the environment of experiments keeps constant. We have dev
 eloped a microfluidic system to investigate cell to cell variations in the
  expression level of a protein\, Red Fluorescence Protein (mRFP1)\, and in
  the activity of co-expressed enzyme\, alkaline phosphatase (AP)\, while c
 ells have been encapsulated in microdroplets. The microfluidic device was 
 constructed by multi layer soft lithography. Pico-liter sized aqueous drop
 lets were formed in oil\, stored in wells\, and monitored. The time-course
  measurement onto significant number of individual cell requires indexing 
 them to identify where cells are located. The storage well built in the de
 vice provides a physical address as droplets are securely docked after sto
 rage. Also\, the droplet shrinking due to water diffusion into the PDMS ma
 trix that jeopardizes quantitative measurements of droplet contents was re
 solved by integrating a reservoir underneath the wells. The reservoir cont
 inuously supply water to the stored droplets to keep the water content con
 stant over long periods. With long term experiments based on the microflui
 dic system that is able to specifically monitor single cells\, we can stud
 y how cells differently behave with respect to time in an identical enviro
 nment. These variations can not be measured in ensembles even though the c
 urrent technology is not matured enough to describe the pathway of heterog
 eneity from the source to the individual phenotype. Also\, a novel way to 
 deliver small molecules to cells after encapsulations in droplets will be 
 discussed. \n
LOCATION:Seminar Room\, Centre for Physics of Medicine (PoM)
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