Indium--tin oxide coated microfabricated device for the injection of a single cell into a fused silica capillary for chemical cytometry

A microfabricated device is described for the capture and injection of a single mammalian cell into a fused silica capillary for subsequent analysis by chemical cytometry. The device consists of a 500 [micro]m diameter well made from polydimethylsiloxane on an indium--tin oxide coated microscope slide. The bottom of the well contains a 2 [micro]m high aperture, which was designed to block passage of cells. A cellular suspension was allowed to settle on the device, and aspiration through the aperture was used to trap a single NG-108 cell. Untrapped cells were washed from the device, and a 150 [micro]m outer diameter and 50 [micro]m inner diameter capillary was placed in the well. To inject a cell, voltage was applied to the indium--tin oxide while simultaneously applying vacuum at the distal end of the capillary. 10.1021/ac1022716