NanoCellect and UCSD Team Up on Single-Cell Sorting and Analysis

NanoCellect Biomedical, a developer of affordable and accessible flow cytometry and cell sorting technology for life science researchers, begins a collaboration with UCSD to develop single cell genomic applications based on their WOLF Cell Sorter. The WOLF Cell Sorter enables easy-to-use cell sorting that avoids the biohazards and shear stress of traditional cell sorters. The WOLF eliminates sample contamination between runs and increases cell viability with low pressure sorting. Plus, the WOLF Cell Sorter is aerosol-free and eliminates containment systems.

This NIH funded project was initiated to enable single cell sorting and study individual properties of each cell. The project addresses a growing demand to study individual cells instead of “averaged” populations. Most research studies are still performed on cell populations that appear morphologically and genetically homogeneous, yet have important biological heterogeneity; with individual cells having unique phenotypic or omic profiles. This leads to an average measurement of the cells, none of which may actually be average. Single-cell analysis defines the scope of cell-to-cell variations within a population and provides in-depth analysis of single, exceptional cells in contexts such as stem cell differentiation or cancer, where these cells give rise to clonal populations that drive the biology. While novel tools such as multiparameter flow cytometry, mass cytometry, and image-based cytometry provide in-depth analysis of individual cells, these technologies only provide a single “snapshot” and lack downstream molecular analysis. This project will develop an integrated cell-sorting and single-cell positioning device to advance single-cell technology with standard multiwell plates. This will allow diverse downstream applications—including kinetic analysis of secreted particles, genomic sequencing, gene expression, and imaging.

Headquartered in San Diego, NanoCellect Biomedical has developed a microchip-based cell sorting technology. NanoCellect’s flow cytometry
platform combines several innovations to provide fluorescence detection, sorting safety, economy, and portability—creating access to personal
flow cytometers. The company’s first product, the WOLF™ Cell Sorter, uses a closed fluid-path microfluidic cartridge that enables easy-to-use
cell sorting and avoids biohazard and shear stress issues associated with traditional cell sorters. The project is supported by the National
Institute Of Biomedical Imaging And Bioengineering of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R43EB021129. The content is
solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.