Research Support
SPIRITS

Microfluidic system for single cell RNA-seq and DNA-seq

Project Gist

Microfluidic technology that dissects the central dogma at sub-cellular level

Keywords

microfluidics, single cell, RNA, DNA, sequencing

Background and Purpose

Recent developments of single-cell analyses have enabled dissecting the cellular heterogeneity at unprecedented resolution and helped to understand the genetics of complex traits. Off-the-shelf technologies typically target RNA and DNA to characterize single cells. However, the technologies remain challenges as they limit the spatial resolution at single-cell level. In this project, we thus aimed to develop a novel microfluidic technology that enables analyses at sub-cellular level by leveraging physical fractionation and independent analyses on nucleic acids in cytoplasm and nucleus.

Project Achievements

Researchers in Japan, US and India collaborated to develop microfluidic technologies for single cell analyses. We filed patents on the novel technology that enables extraction and fractionation of nucleic acids from single cells by leveraging electrical field and microfluidics. We continue our collaboration to commercialize our invention as a product.

Future Prospects

We hope to commercialize our invention and apply it to various cell samples collaborating with researchers internationally.

Figure

Prof. Supreet Singh Bahga of IIT Delhi and members of the SPIRITS project

Principal Investigator

SHINTAKU Hirofumi

・SHINTAKU Hirofumi
・Graduate School of Engineering
・Dr. Hirofumi Shintaku is an Assistant Professor of Micro Engineering at Kyoto University, Japan. He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Kyoto University in 2006. His research includes the development of methods for sample preparation of biochemical analysis and measurement techniques for microfluidic systems. He was awarded the Best Paper Award from JSAEM (’06), the IIP Division Award for Young Engineer from JSME(’09), JSME Young Engineers Award (’10), Osaka University Achievement Award (’11), and Certificate of Merit for Micro-Nano Science and Technology Division of JSME (’14).
http://sites.google.com/site/kyotouniversitymicrofluidics