https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202430904002
A microfluidic scanning flow cytometer with superior signal-to-noise-ratio for label-free characterization of small particles
1 Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Italian Institute of Technology, Rome, Italy
2 Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
3 Institute of Nanotechnology of the National Research Council of Italy, CNR-NANOTEC, Rome Unit, Piazzale A. Moro 5, I-00185, Rome, Italy
* Corresponding author: riccardo.reale@iit.it
Published online: 31 October 2024
Single-cell analysis without immune-specific labelling is essential across research fields, but conventional flow cytometers (FCMs) struggle with label-free analysis. We introduce a novel microfluidic scanning flow cytometer (μSFC) designed for label-free analysis within a simple microfluidic chip. Our system outperforms traditional FCMs for label-free analysis but its signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) limits the minimum detectable size. We present three modifications to enhance SNR and improve the smallest detectable particle size: additional neutral optical density filtering, a lower noise-equivalent-power photoreceiver, and laser spot size reduction. These improvements enable reliable characterization of particles as small as 3 μm. Experimental results validate the correlation between angular profile oscillations and particle size. While reliable detection down to 1 μm is achieved, further refinement is needed. The simplicity and low setup of the μSFC make it promising for integration into multi-parametric single-cell analysis systems, facilitating comprehensive cellular characterization for diagnostic and point-of-care applications.
© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2024
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
