MINATEC

Capturing individual blood cells on a biochip is now feasible, thanks to the joint efforts of an INAC lab and a LAAS research team. These scientists accomplished the feat by using gold-coated silicon bio-pencils which deposit on a gold-coated glass slide a monomer solution containing carefully-selected antibodies. The deposits are less than 10 microns in diameter, making it possible to capture single blood cells, which measure between 10 microns and 15 microns.
Each biochip can capture 64 different types of cells; the type of cell captured can be changed by simply changing the antibodies. This makes it possible to study the interactions between specific cells. Early demonstrations have been conclusive enough to inspire a PhD dissertation at INAC, which is also being carried out in conjunction with the Toulouse-based LAAS team.
 
Contact: yoann.roupioz@cea.fr