Continuous Optical Fractionation of Biological Materials

该奖项支持开发一种紧凑、集成的系统，用于连续分离流体携带的材料，如大分子、纳米簇、胶体颗粒、细胞碎片和整个活细胞。该设备基于光学分馏，这是一种最近发现的策略，基于与光的不同相互作用，以区分和分类不同样本(复杂混合物)中指定的粒子亚群--例如，不同大小的细胞。该装置使用光学陷阱阵列，选择性地将材料偏转到微流控通道中，以便收集和处理。基本原理已经在实验室规模上得到了验证。目前的赠款将支持(1)将该技术开发为成本更低、更紧凑的交钥匙系统，以及(2)开发用于对不同类别的生物材料进行光学分级的协议。光学分级仪提供连续的样品分选和分离，具有前所未有的准确性、通用性、易用性和成本效益。因此，它应该会在生物学研究中得到广泛的应用，从实验室对合成和天然生物分子的纯化到细胞细胞学的新模式。除了该仪器的开发外，该项目预计还将为生物物理学方面的两篇博士论文和三篇本科生荣誉论文提供基础。

This award supports development of a compact, integrated system for continuous separation of fluid-borne materials such as macromolecules, nanoclusters, colloidal particles, cell fragments and entire living cells. The device is based on optical fractionation, a recently discovered strategy based on differing interactions with light to distinguish and sort specified subpopulations of particles - for example, cells of differing size - within heterogeneous samples (complex mixtures). The device uses arrays of optical traps to selectively deflect materials into microfluidic channels for collection and processing. The basic principle has been demonstrated on the laboratory scale. The current grant will support (1) development of the technology into a less expensive and more compact, turn-key system, and (2) development of protocols for optically fractionating different classes of biomaterials. The optical fractionation instrument offers continuous sample sorting and separation with an unprecedented combination of accuracy, generality, ease of use and cost-effectiveness. Consequently, it should find widespread applications in biological research, ranging from laboratory purification of both synthetic and natural biomolecules to new modes of cell cytometry. In addition to development of the instrument, the project is expected to provide the basis for two doctoral theses and three undergraduate honors theses in biophysics.