2025-12-03 東京科学大学
図1. 温度応答型マイクロピラーアレイデバイス(上段)と分離モード切替の概念図(下段)
完全分離モードでは赤血球と白血球と細胞(大・小)を分けることができ、選択的分離モードでは大サイズ細胞のみを分離できることを実証
<関連情報>
- https://www.isct.ac.jp/ja/news/luxn1qb9co5h
- https://www.isct.ac.jp/plugins/cms/component_download_file.php?type=2&pageId=&contentsId=1&contentsDataId=2697&prevId=&key=81719def35d483bb76fbe511f9e3e391.pdf
- https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2025/lc/d5lc00783f
熱応答性決定論的横方向変位デバイスを用いた調整可能な細胞分離 Tunable cell separation using a thermo-responsive deterministic lateral displacement device
Ze Jiang,Yusuke Kanno and Takasi Nisisako
Lab on a Chip Published:03 Sep 2025
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/D5LC00783F
Abstract
Tunability in isolating target cells of varying sizes from complex heterogeneous samples is essential for biomedical research and diagnostics. However, conventional deterministic lateral displacement (DLD) systems lack flexibility due to their fixed critical diameters (Dc). Here, we present a thermo-responsive DLD micropillar array that enables tunable cell separation by dynamically modulating Dc through temperature control. Our device integrates poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) hydrogel micropillars within a PDMS-silicon microfluidic chip mounted on a Peltier element, enabling precise Dc adjustments from 0.8 to 29.0 μm within a temperature range of 20–40 °C. Transient and steady-state simulations confirmed that the silicon substrate enhances thermal performance, ensuring rapid and uniform temperature regulation. Using blood samples containing human breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7), we demonstrated three separation modes: (i) major separation at 25 °C, isolating MCF-7 cells (average size: 17.6 μm) with 100% purity; (ii) selective separation at 26 °C, targeting larger MCF-7 subpopulations (average size: 18.7 μm); (iii) minimal separation at 37 °C. All processes preserved cell viability. These findings highlight the potential of our thermo-responsive DLD platform for precise, temperature-controlled cell selection, offering broad applications in biomedical research and diagnostics.
