Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI
Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI

Automated production technologies for mRNA-based drugs

Microfluidic cell staining module for automated flow cytometry

Detail photo of microfluidic chip
The microfluidic chip provides the complete sample preparation workflow: Mixing the cells with staining solution, incubation and cell washing to output a readily stained and washed cell suspension.

Flow cytometry is a standard tool for quality control in all technical processes involving biological cells, but it is also invaluable for research and development labs due to its ability to reliably gather information about cell populations, down to the single-cell level. It however requires many manual, labor-intensive steps which so far lack automation: A sample needs to be taken, centrifuged to remove media, stained, incubated, and washed by centrifugation, before it can eventually be measured.

At the Fraunhofer IMM, we have developed technology which automates the complete sample preparation workflow for flow cytometry. Just provide your cells and antibodies of choice, the module handles the rest.

Automate the full staining workflow

At the heart of our technology is a microfluidic chip that handles all preparation steps:

  • Viscoelastic buffer exchange strategy for washing steps
  • Optional pre-wash for removal of culture medium 
  • Passive mixing with staining solution
  • Controlled incubation
  • Post-wash for removal of staining solution 
  • Reusable 
  • Implemented cleaning protocols for near-zero carryover
Microfluidics allows for on-chip buffer exchange, precisely separating staining solution from cells without centrifugation
Microfluidics allows for on-chip buffer exchange, precisely separating staining solution from cells without centrifugation.

Your benefits

  • Cost-savings by minimal hands-on time 
  • Repeatable, user-independent staining quality
  • Possibilities for parallelization
  • Sterile solution without the need for a clean room
  • Low shear-stress environment for sensitive cells (no centrifugation)
  • Reduced turnaround per sample
  • Increased sampling frequency

Technical specifications

  • Similar staining quality compared to manual staining protocols
  • Buffer exchange efficiency of ~99 %
  • Cell recovery rates of around 70 %
  • Process time of around 15–20 min

Applications

  • Online process and quality control for pharmaceutical production
  • Automation of clinical diagnostics
  • Automation for R&D laboratories

Test the automation of your flow cytometry. Schedule a demo or a pilot project.

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»Microfluidic technologies are the key to automate your flow cytometry process.«

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