Electrofusion of cells on chip: from a static, parallel approach to a high-througput, serial, microdroplet platform

摘要

In this thesis, the results of the development of two microfluidic devices (static and high­ throughput) for efficient electrofusion of cells were described and evaluated. Electrofusion of cells is an important tool for generating antibody producing hybridomas. These hybridomas are the result of the fusion between a B-cell and a myeloma cell. The conventional method for generating hybridomas has a very low efficiency (typically around 0.001%). In combination with the increasing need for antibodies, this has motivated us to explore a more efficient method for generating hybridomas. In our opinion, microtluidic chips offer several advantages compared to the conventional systems.