Single Cell Analysis Microfluidic Device for Cell Line Optimisation in Upstream Cell Culture Processing Biopharamceutical Applications

Increased demands for protein production efficiency by identification of optimal protein producer cells and more stringent FDA requirements regarding single cell clonality represent key unmet needs within the biopharma industry. A microfluidic single cell analysis device is reported within that identifies optimal protein producing cells within a population, subsequently isolating and culturing them for efficient cell line development. This lab on a disc device first centrifugally sediments a cohort of suspended CHO cells into an array of 1,200 traps at single-occupancy distribution where they can be individually analysed for their protein expression via their fluorescence. Cells exhibiting the highest specific productivity (Qp) are retrieved and further analysed on the chip by staining with a secondary antibody-conjugate and tested for viability. The reduced sample volumes, the low-complexity instrumentation and simplified data analysis offers significant potential for critical time and cost savings compared to current standard methods such as flow cytometry and higher cost integrated instruments.