Characterizing Cell Death Events Using a Microfluidics-based Method

Abstract

Cell death is the ultimate endpoint of the cellular life cycle, and the ability to distinguish different types of cell death (e.g., apoptosis and necrosis) has been a subject of intensive research. This paper demonstrates the suitability and efficiency of a microfluidics-based method for characterization of cell death events. A multicompartmented microfluidic device was used to examine the types of cell death induced by cadmium ions at various concentrations. Annexin V-FITC in combination with propidium iodide was used to distinguish between viable, apoptotic, and necrotic cells. The microfluidics-based method facilitates the performance of analysis of cell death on the basis of membrane alteration as well as morphological discrimination. In addition, this method shows high sensitivity and specificity, as evidenced by the quantification of the ratio of apoptotic and necrotic cells in the total population of cells.