(379e) Membranes for Sorting Cells

A new method to sort cells based on cell motility on micropatterned membranes or culture dishes is reported.  The method permits real-time visualization of the entire cell population and requires less than 10³cells.  The asymmetric micropatterns generated by microfabrication guide the path and direction of cell migration to allow mammalian cells autonomously sort on membranes based on their relative motility. The method has been demonstrated by sorting mixtures of same kind of cells expressing different signaling molecules, two different cell types, and cancerous and normal epithelial cells.  A three dimensional version based on microchannels within the membranes has also been developed.  The method requires no pre-labelling, external gradients or fields provides a useful tool in fractioning or concentrating fast/slow moving cells for cell separation and  migration assays.  Advances in the manufacture of membranes with designed microchannels for directing cell migration would enable rapid commercial-scale implementation of this cell motility assay.