Sub-population analysis of deformability distribution in heterogeneous cell populations

We present a sub-population analysis of deformability distribution using single-cell microchamber array. The present technology is a unique method allowing the correlation of overall cellular characteristics with surface and cytosolic characteristics to define the distribution of individual cellular characteristics in heterogeneous cell populations. From the fabricated devices, reticulocytes, the immature sub-population of red blood cells (RBC), were recognized from human blood by using a specific surface marker. Deformability characteristics of reticulocytes and RBCs depending on the applying electric voltage were characterized and compared. While the sickle RBC showed a positive increase rate of elongation index (EI), reticulocytes didn't show any significant EI change. The proposed technology can be used in a variety of applications that would benefit from the ability to measure the distribution of cellular characteristics in complex RBC populations, important to define hematologic disorders.