Microscope-based label-free microfluidic cytometry

A microscope-based label-free microfluidic cytometer capable of acquiring two dimensional light scatter patterns from single cells, pattern analysis of which determines cellular information such as cell size, orientation and inner nanostructure, was developed. Finite-difference time-domain numerical simulations compared favorably with experimental scatter patterns from micrometer-sized beads and cells. The device was capable of obtaining light scattering patterns from the smallest mature blood cells (platelets) and cord blood hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (CD34 + cells) and myeloid precursor cells. The potential for evaluation of cells using this label-free microfluidic cytometric technique was discussed.