The preparation and handling of mammalian single-cell genomic DNA is limited by the complexity bottleneck inherent to performing multi-step, multi-reagent operations in a microfluidic environment. We have developed a method for benchtop preparation of high-molecular weight, intact, single-cell genomes and demonstrate the extraction of long nucleic acid molecules in a microfluidic system. Lymphoblasts are encapsulated inside of alginate microparticles using a droplet microfluidics, and cells are lysed in bulk. The purified genomes are then delivered to and imaged on a dedicated microfluidic device. High-molecular weight DNA is protected from shear and retains its original cellular identity. Using this encapsulation protocol, we were able to extract individual nucleic acid strands on the millimeter scale inside of a microfluidic channel.
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Hydrogel droplet single-cell processing: DNA purification, handling, release, and on-chip linearization
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March 2018
Research Article|
March 14 2018
Hydrogel droplet single-cell processing: DNA purification, handling, release, and on-chip linearization

Philip Zimny;
Philip Zimny
a)
1
Department of Biological Engineering, McGill University
, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada
2
McGill University and Genome Quebec Innovation Center
, 740 Dr. Penfield Avenue, Room 7104, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0G1, Canada
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David Juncker;
David Juncker
a)
1
Department of Biological Engineering, McGill University
, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada
2
McGill University and Genome Quebec Innovation Center
, 740 Dr. Penfield Avenue, Room 7104, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0G1, Canada
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Walter Reisner
Walter Reisner
a)
3
Department of Physics, McGill University
, 3600 Rue University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2T8, Canada
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Biomicrofluidics 12, 024107 (2018)
Article history
Received:
December 23 2017
Accepted:
February 20 2018
Connected Content
A companion article has been published:
Microfluidics platform simplifies preparation of long DNA strands for optical mapping
Citation
Philip Zimny, David Juncker, Walter Reisner; Hydrogel droplet single-cell processing: DNA purification, handling, release, and on-chip linearization. Biomicrofluidics 1 March 2018; 12 (2): 024107. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5020571
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