Device for selectively removing cells from a biological sample

A variety of techniques have been used to isolate specific cells or cell populations from a histological sample under direct microscopic visualization.   Techniques that involve manual or micro-manipulation devices to isolate individual cells based upon visible characteristics and/or immunological staining are labor intensive and can require an extended amount of time.  TheNational Institute for Childhood Health and Diseases (NICHD) has invented a device and a method to automatically identify cells reacting with light sensitive immunoreagent (s) (e.g., antibodies labeled with a light sensitive tag).   The device may be used to selectively transfer the cells to a thermoplastic polymer film by exposing them to a flashtube that selectively activates the immunoreagent. Activation of the immunoreagent bound to the cells causes the cells to selectively adhere to thermoplastic polymer film.  Individ ual cells, populations of cells, or specific regions of the tissue can be isolated using the device.  Populations of cells can be sequentially isolated by employing immunoreagents that are activated by different wavelengths of light.  The device can also be used to isolate cellular components (e.g . cell nuclei). The device can also be used for high throughput analysis of the samples.A related technology with NIH Reference Number E-046-2014 " Improvements and new inventor on combined flash lamp and vacuum slide/film apposition device for microdissection of stained targets within a...
Source: NIH OTT Licensing Opportunities - Category: Research Authors: Source Type: research