Magnetic circuits for large scale single cell analysis

The ability to manipulate single cells with the precision and parallelization of modern-day computer systems has profound applications in studying rare diseases, such as in cancer and infectious disease. The overarching goal of our research is to develop an integrated systems approach to coordinate the placement of single cells in large arrays and analyze their function when exposed to different stimuli. Achieving this goal require a circuits-like approach to performing operations on matter in a highly scalable manner. We have developed magnetic systems capable of executing sequential and parallel, timed operations on an ensemble of single particles and cells. In this talk, I will demonstrate these analogies with computer circuits and motivate our future goals of using this platform to study single cell interactions from the live state to the cell lysis, which is paramount to furthering our understanding of immunology, and cancer.

Benjamin Yellen is an Associate Professor at Duke University in the Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Department. His research is engaged in the analysis of collective dynamics of interacting colloidal particle systems for applications in manufacturing and life sciences.