MICROFLUIDIC DROPLETS FOR METABOLIC ENGINEERING AND OTHER APPLICATIONS
First Claim
1. A method of producing an enriched population of cells, comprising:
- providing a first population of droplets contained within a microfluidic device, at least some of which droplets encapsulate one or more cells, at least some of which droplets include a first cell type and at least some of which droplets include a second cell type;
for at least some of the droplets, determining the ability of one or more cells within the respective droplets to react with a sugar, wherein the first cell type is able to metabolize the sugar to a greater degree than the second cell type; and
based on the determination, producing an enriched population of droplets of cells of the first cell type relative to the second cell type.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to the use of droplets to culture and/or assay cells or other species. In some cases, the cells or other species may be sorted based upon the results of the culture and/or assay. In some embodiments, cells other species can be encapsulated in droplets and exposed to one or more agents (e.g., a sugar, an indicator dye, etc.). For instance, in some cases, exposure of cells to the agents may result in the production of metabolites or other compounds (e.g., amino acids, proteins, organic acids, etc.) which may be, for example, assayed or otherwise determined. In some embodiments, the reaction of an agent with cells and/or other species within a droplet may reveal a property of the cells or other species (e.g., sugar consumption, growth rate, ability to withstand exposure to the agent, etc.). As an example, cells that produce desired metabolites or exhibit certain properties may be separated from the other cells via sorting techniques. Other aspects of the invention relate to devices or kits for implementing such sorts, methods of promoting such techniques, or the like.
79 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method of producing an enriched population of cells, comprising:
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providing a first population of droplets contained within a microfluidic device, at least some of which droplets encapsulate one or more cells, at least some of which droplets include a first cell type and at least some of which droplets include a second cell type; for at least some of the droplets, determining the ability of one or more cells within the respective droplets to react with a sugar, wherein the first cell type is able to metabolize the sugar to a greater degree than the second cell type; and based on the determination, producing an enriched population of droplets of cells of the first cell type relative to the second cell type. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of producing an enriched population of cells, comprising:
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providing a population of droplets contained within a microfluidic device, at least some of which droplets encapsulate one or more cells, at least some of which droplets of the population of droplets include a first cell type and at least some of which droplets include a second cell type; for at least some of the droplets, determining the ability of one or more cells within the droplet to react with an agent, wherein the first cell type reacts with the agent to a greater degree than does the second cell type; and based on the determination, producing an enriched population of droplets of cells of the first cell type relative to the second cell type. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20-36. -36. (canceled)
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37. A method, comprising:
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providing a population of droplets contained within a microfluidic device, at least some of which droplets encapsulate one or more cells and at least some of which droplets contain a sugar; exposing at least some of the droplets to an enzyme able to react with the sugar; and determining an extent of reaction of the enzyme with the sugar.
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38-65. -65. (canceled)
Specification