Nanofluidic platform for single mitochondria analysis
A microfluidic device for mitochondria analysis includes an inlet coupled to a first access channel, an outlet coupled to a second access channel, and a plurality of trapping channels fluidically coupled at one end to the first access channel and fluidically coupled at an opposing end to the second access channel, each trapping channel has a cross-sectional dimension about 2 μm in one direction and a cross-sectional dimension between about 0.45 and about 0.75 μm in a second direction.
1. A microfluidic device for mitochondria analysis comprising:
an inlet coupled to a first access channel;
an outlet coupled to a second access channel; and
a plurality of trapping channels fluidically coupled at one end to the first access channel and fluidically coupled at an opposing end to the second access channel, each trapping channel comprises a cross-sectional dimension about 2 μm in one of width or height and a cross-sectional dimension between about 0.45 and about 0.75 μm in the other of width or height.
2. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the trapping channels are formed in polydimethysiloxane PDMS.
3. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , further comprising a pumping source operatively coupled to the inlet.
4. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of trapping channels comprises at least five channels.
5. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , further comprising an imaging device configured to image the plurality of trapping channels.
6. The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein each of the trapping channels has a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape.
7. A method of analyzing mitochondria comprising:
flowing a sample containing mitochondria into the inlet of the device of claim 1 ;
trapping at least some of the mitochondria within the trapping channels; and
imaging the plurality of trapping channels with an imaging device, wherein the trapped mitochondria are fluorescently labeled.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein imaging comprises obtaining multiple images over a period of time and monitoring fluorescent levels as a function of time.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein in the sample containing mitochondria also contains substrates consumed by the mitochondria.
10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising serially flowing different solutions through the inlet of the device.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the sample is flowed into the device at a rate of around 10 μL/h.
12. The method of claim 7 , wherein multiple mitochondria are trapped within the trapping channels.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein each trapping channel traps between about 3 and 6 mitochondria within a field of view of the imaging device.
14. A method of analyzing mitochondria comprising:
flowing a sample containing fluorescently labeled mitochondria through a plurality of trapping channels, with each trapping channel having a cross-sectional dimension about 2 μm in one of width or height and a cross-sectional dimension between about 0.45 and about 0.75 μm in the other of width or height;
trapping one or more mitochondria within the plurality of trapping channels; and
imaging the trapped one or more mitochondria over a period of time.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein imaging comprises obtaining multiple images over a period of time and monitoring fluorescent levels as a function of time.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the sample containing mitochondria also contains substrates consumed by the mitochondria.
17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising serially flowing different solutions through the plurality of trapping channels.