SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LASER LYSIS

1 . A method of lysing individual cells in situ, comprising:

lysing a selected area of a tissue sample being subjected to a steam of continuous fluid flow with a laser, thereby releasing at least a portion of a cellular content from the tissue sample.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the tissue sample is a live tissue, and wherein the selected area is a single cell of the live tissue.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising recovering at least one target molecule from cellular content in the stream.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising processing the at least one target molecule.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein processing comprises single-cell quantitative in situ RT-PCR.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the tissue sample has a maximum dimension of about 200 μm to about 300 μm.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the laser is a two-photon laser.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of capturing further includes collecting the tissue sample with a tissue collection device.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further including aspirating the tissue sample with the tissue collection device, and automatically depositing the tissue sample on an analysis platform.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the analysis platform is removably coupled to the tissue collection device.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the analysis platform is a microfluidic chip comprising a cage configured to retain the tissue sample.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the cage comprises a fluid channel and a plurality of posts spaced apart within the fluid channel.

13 . A system for lysing cells, comprising:

a microfluidic chip having a fluid channel and a cage disposed within the fluid channel, the cage sized to capture a tissue sample;

a microscope for observing the tissue sample;

a laser for irradiating a selected area of the tissue sample; and

a downstream module coupled to the microfluidic chip for processing a target molecule collected from the tissue sample;

wherein irradiating the tissue sample with the laser lyses the selected area of the tissue sample, thereby releasing the target molecule from the tissue sample into the fluid channel.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the laser is a two-photon laser.

15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the module is a quantitative RT-PCR module.

16 . A device, comprising:

an apparatus including a body defining a passage, a capillary in fluid communication with an inlet of the passage, and an output port in fluid communication with an outlet of the passage; and

a microfluidic chip removably coupled to the body, the microfluidic chip including a first fluid channel having an inlet and an outlet in communication with the passage, and a cage positioned between the inlet and the outlet, the cage comprising a plurality of structures sized to retain a tissue sample in the first fluid channel.

17 . The device of claim 16 , further comprising an RT-PCR module in communication with the first fluid channel.

18 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the microfluidic chip further comprises a second fluid channel in communication with the first fluid channel downstream of the cage, and a third fluid channel in communication with the first fluid channel downstream of the second fluid channel,

wherein the second fluid channel is in communication with a source of RT-PCR reagents, and wherein the third fluid channel is in communication with a source of material for encapsulating the contents of the first fluid stream and the second fluid stream.

19 . The device of claim 18 , further comprising a motorized platform for dispensing liquid from the microfluidic chip into a container.

20 . The device of claim 19 , further comprising a sensor for monitoring at least one of the motorized platform and the container, wherein the sensor is configured to reduce carryover contamination.