Instrumentation is needed that can rapidly analyze the interactions between living cells and candidate therapeutic agents. This project will develop a miniature, high performance flow cytometer, equipped with recent advances in lasers, optics, and detectors. The cytometer will rapidly evaluate many parameters one cell at a time, use very small samples sizes, avoid aggregate responses, and permit the cells to be later sorted. Modulation techniques coupled with mathematical analyses will be used to distinguish between signals arising from different laser sources. In Phase I, a solid state laser, advanced optics, and recently developed detectors will be incorporated into the system. A detection system will be developed that involves fewer optical elements than conventional cytometry units and uses modulation techniques to further enhance performance. The system will be tested with live cells.
Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The technology should allow flow cytometers to be used for recently developed methods such as combinatorial chemistry. In addition to applications in drug discovery, flow cytometers should find new applications in medical research, clinical practice, environmental analyses, etc.
