Measurement of Deformability of Cell by Slits between Micro Cylindrical Pillars

摘要

Deformation of a cell has been measured using slits between micro cylindrical pillars in vitro. Micro cylindrical pillars (0.02 mm diameter, 0.06 mm height) were fabricated on the glass plate using the photolithography technique. Variation was made on the gap between pillars: 0.025 mm, 0.020 mm, 0.015 mm, and 0.010 mm. The micro pillars were set in the flow path between parallel plates, of which dimension of the cross section has 1 mm width and 0.06 mm height. Two types of biological cells were used in the test alternatively: C2C12 (mouse myoblast cell line), Hepal-6 (mouse hepatoma cell line). The suspension of cells was introduced into the slits, and the deformation of the cell at the slit was observed by the microscope. The experimental results show that several cells clogged in the slit of 0.01 mm, and the passing time of C2C12 is shorter than that of Hepal-6 at the smaller deformation ratio. The designed slit has capability for evaluation of deformability of a cell.