| This thesis presents the development of a system for single cell capillary electrophoresis in a multichannel microfluidic device. Large features were machined into the polymethylmethyl acrylate (PMMA) substrate using a programmable milling machine. The finer, channel designs consisting of 4, parallel 10 mum channels were photolithographically etched in the substrate using a laser micro-fabrication system based on a molecular fluorine (F2) excimer laser. The system uses optical tweezers for selection and transport of single cells inside the microfluidic device, and electrical potential for lysis of the cells at the opening of the channels. Separation of the injected content of individual calcein-labeled Acute Myloid Leukemia (AML) cells is presented and compared to separations performed in an established system for single cell capillary electrophoresis. |
