Ultrasonically-guided flow focusing generates precise emulsion droplets for high-throughput single cell analyses.

摘要: Emulsion-based techniques have dramatically advanced our understanding of single-cell biology and complex features over the past two decades. Most approaches for precise single cell isolation rely on microfluidics, which has proven highly effective but requires substantial investment in equipment expertise that can be difficult to access researchers specialize other areas bioengineering molecular biotechnology. Inspired by robust droplet generation technologies modern flow cytometry instrumentation, here we established a new platform high-throughput cells within droplets tunable sizes combining focusing with ultrasonic vibration rapid formation. Application pressure waves flowing jet provided enhanced control emulsion size, permitting capture 25,000 50,000 per minute. As an example application, applied this sequence antibody variable region heavy light chain pairings (VH:VL) from large repertoires B cells. We demonstrated recovery > 40,000 paired CDRH3:CDRL3 clusters individual, validating these systems enable genetic analysis very populations. These accessible will allow rapid, large-scale, analyses broad range biotechnology applications.