Cellular lensing and near infrared fluorescent nanosensor arrays to enable chemical efflux cytometry

Abstract Nanosensors have proven to be powerful tools monitor single cells, achieving spatiotemporal precision even at molecular level. However, there has not been way of extending this approach statistically relevant numbers living cells. Herein, we design and fabricate nanosensor array in microfluidics that addresses limitation, creating a Nanosensor Chemical Cytometry (NCC). nIR fluorescent carbon nanotube is integrated along microfluidic channel through which flowing cells guided. We can utilize the cell itself as highly informative Gaussian lenses projecting profiles extract rich information. This unique biophotonic waveguide allows for quantified cross-correlation biomolecular information with various physical properties creates label-free chemical cytometer cellular heterogeneity measurement. As an example, NCC profile immune heterogeneities human monocyte populations attomolar sensitivity completely non-destructive real-time manner rate ~600 cells/hr, highest range demonstrated date state-of-the-art cytometry.