System, fluidics cartridge, and methods for using actuated surface-attached posts for processing cells

1. A method for processing cells comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a cell processing system comprising:

a fluidics cartridge comprising:

a cell processing chamber comprising a bottom substrate and a top substrate separated by a gap, wherein the cell processing chamber further comprises a micropost array, wherein the micropost array comprises a plurality of surface-attached microposts arranged on a micropost substrate, and wherein the micropost substrate is positioned atop the bottom substrate; and

a control instrument;

wherein the surface-attached microposts are configured for actuation in the presence of an actuation force, wherein no binding agents are disposed on or integrated with the surface-attached microposts, the bottom substrate, the top substrate, or the micropost substrate, and wherein the bottom substrate and the top substrate are arranged atop a registration feature configured for mounting on the control instrument; and

wherein the fluidics cartridge further comprises one or more sample reservoirs, one or more wash reservoirs, one or more supply cell processing chambers, one or more waste reservoirs, and one or more eluent reservoirs fluidly connected via an arrangement of fluid channels to the cell processing chamber;

(b) introducing a sample fluid to a sample reservoir of the one or more sample reservoirs, wherein the sample fluid comprises cells, and wherein the cells are suspended in the sample fluid;

(c) flowing the sample fluid into the cell processing chamber;

(d) precipitating the cells suspended in the sample fluid onto the micropost substrate amongst the surface-attached microposts, wherein no actuation forces are applied to the surface-attached microposts;

(e) performing a cell wash cycle comprising flowing wash buffer solution out of a wash reservoir of the one or more wash reservoirs, through the cell processing chamber, and into a waste reservoir of the one or more waste reservoirs, wherein the cells remain precipitated onto the micropost substrate amongst the surface-attached microposts, and wherein no actuation forces are applied to the surface-attached microposts;

(f) repeating step (e) as needed to wash the cells precipitated onto the micropost substrate amongst the surface-attached microposts;

(g) performing a cell recovery cycle comprising flowing wash buffer solution through the cell processing chamber, wherein actuation forces are applied to the surface-attached microposts to resuspend the cells into the flowing wash buffer solution, thereby producing a cell-containing eluent; and

(h) flowing the cell-containing eluent into an eluent reservoir of the one or more eluent reservoirs.

2. A method for processing cells comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a cell processing system comprising: a fluidics cartridge comprising:

a cell processing chamber comprising a bottom substrate and a top substrate separated by a gap, wherein the cell processing chamber further comprises a micropost array, wherein the micropost array comprises a plurality of surface-attached microposts arranged on a micropost substrate, and wherein the micropost substrate is positioned atop the bottom substrate; and

a control instrument;

wherein the surface-attached microposts are configured for actuation in the presence of an actuation force, wherein no binding agents are disposed on or integrated with the surface-attached microposts, the bottom substrate, the top substrate, or the micropost substrate, and wherein the bottom substrate and the top substrate are arranged atop a registration feature configured for mounting on the control instrument; and

wherein the fluidics cartridge further comprises one or more sample reservoirs, one or more wash reservoirs, one or more supply cell processing chambers, one or more waste reservoirs, and one or more eluent reservoirs fluidly connected via an arrangement of fluid channels to the cell processing chamber;

(b) providing a microarray on the top substrate opposing the surface-attached microposts, wherein the microarray is functionalized with analyte capture elements;

(c) introducing a sample fluid to a sample reservoir of the one or more sample reservoirs, wherein the sample fluid comprises cells, and wherein the cells are suspended in the sample fluid;

(d) flowing the sample fluid into the cell processing chamber;

(e) precipitating the cells suspended in the sample fluid onto the micropost substrate amongst the surface-attached microposts, wherein no actuation forces are applied to the surface-attached microposts;

(f) flowing a lysis buffer into the cell processing chamber, thereby producing lysed cells and analytes; and

(g) applying actuation forces to the surface-attached microposts to mix the lysed cells and the analytes in the cell processing chamber, wherein the analytes bind to the analyte capture elements of the microarray.

3. A method of making a cell processing system, wherein the method comprises:

(a) providing a cell processing system comprising:

a fluidics cartridge comprising:

a cell processing chamber comprising a bottom substrate and a top substrate separated by a gap, wherein the cell processing chamber further comprises a micropost array, wherein the micropost array comprises a plurality of surface-attached microposts arranged on a micropost substrate, and wherein the micropost substrate is positioned atop the bottom substrate; and

a control instrument;

wherein the surface-attached microposts are configured for actuation in the presence of an actuation force, wherein no binding agents are disposed on or integrated with the surface-attached microposts, the bottom substrate, the top substrate, or the micropost substrate, and wherein the bottom substrate and the top substrate are arranged atop a registration feature configured for mounting on the control instrument; and

wherein the fluidics cartridge further comprises one or more sample reservoirs, one or more wash reservoirs, one or more supply cell processing chambers, one or more waste reservoirs, and one or more eluent reservoirs fluidly connected via an arrangement of fluid channels to the cell processing chamber;

(b) providing a micropost array on the top substrate opposing the surface-attached microposts, wherein the micropost array is functionalized with analyte capture elements; and

(c) fabricating the micropost array in a high density and using a tool to crush unwanted microposts to form a flow path.

4. The method for processing cells of claim 1 , wherein the surface-attached microposts are formed of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).

5. The method for processing cells of claim 1 , wherein the surface-attached microposts range in length from about 1 μm to about 100 μm.

6. The method for processing cells of claim 1 , wherein the surface-attached microposts range in diameter from about 0.1 μm to about 10 μm.

7. The method for processing cells of claim 1 , wherein the surface-attached microposts have a cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of circular, ovular, square, rectangular, and triangular.

8. The method for processing cells of claim 1 , wherein the surface-attached microposts are oriented substantially normal to the plane of the micropost substrate.

9. The method for processing cells of claim 1 , wherein the surface-attached microposts are oriented at an angle a with respect to normal of the plane of the micropost substrate.

10. The method for processing cells of claim 1 , wherein the surface-attached microposts are oriented at a pitch of from about 0 μm to about 50 μm.

11. The method for processing cells of claim 1 , wherein the cell processing system further comprises an automatic robotics system for processing biological materials comprising a multi-well plate.

12. The method for processing cells of claim 11 , wherein the multi-well plate is selected from the group consisting of a 12-well plate, a 24-well plate, and a 96-well plate.

13. The method for processing cells of claim 2 , wherein the surface-attached microposts are formed of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).

14. The method for processing cells of claim 2 , wherein the surface-attached microposts range in length from about 1 μm to about 100 μm.

15. The method for processing cells of claim 2 , wherein the surface-attached microposts range in diameter from about 0.1 μm to about 10 μm.

16. The method for processing cells of claim 2 , wherein the surface-attached microposts are oriented substantially normal to the plane of the micropost substrate.

17. The method for processing cells of claim 3 , wherein the surface-attached microposts are formed of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).

18. The method for processing cells of claim 3 , wherein the surface-attached microposts range in length from about 1 μm to about 100 μm.

19. The method for processing cells of claim 3 , wherein the surface-attached microposts range in diameter from about 0.1 μm to about 10 μm.

20. The method for processing cells of claim 3 , wherein the surface-attached microposts are oriented substantially normal to the plane of the micropost substrate.