Computer simulations of the energy dissipation rate in a fluorescence-activated cell sorter: Implications to cells

• Published in: Biotechnology and bioengineering Vol. 100; no. 2; pp. 260 - 272
• Main Authors: Mollet, Mike, Godoy-Silva, Ruben, Berdugo, Claudia, Chalmers, Jeffrey J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.06.2008; Wiley; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; cell damage; Cell Physiological Phenomena; Cell Separation - instrumentation; Cell Separation - methods; Cells; CHO; Computer Simulation; Computer-Aided Design; EDR; Energy dissipation; Energy Transfer; Equipment Design; Equipment Failure Analysis; FACS; flow cytometry; Flow Cytometry - instrumentation; Flow Cytometry - methods; Fluid dynamics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Microfluidics - instrumentation; Microfluidics - methods; Models, Biological; shear stress; Studies; Flow cytometry; Cell sorter; EDR; cell damage; Computer simulation; Energy dissipation; Shear stress; Fluorescence; Lesion; CHO; FACS; CHO cell line
• ISSN: 0006-3592; 1097-0290
• DOI: 10.1002/bit.21762

Fluorescence activated cell sorting, FACS, is a widely used method to sort subpopulations of cells to high purities. To achieve relatively high sorting speeds, FACS instruments operate by forcing suspended cells to flow in a single file line through a laser(s) beam(s). Subsequently, this flow stream breaks up into individual drops which can be charged and deflected into multiple collection streams. Previous work by Ma et al. (2002) and Mollet et al. (2007; Biotechnol Bioeng 98:772-788) indicates that subjecting cells to hydrodynamic forces consisting of both high extensional and shear components in micro-channels results in significant cell damage. Using the fluid dynamics software FLUENT®, computer simulations of typical fluid flow through the nozzle of a BD FACSVantage indicate that hydrodynamic forces, quantified using the scalar parameter energy dissipation rate, are similar in the FACS nozzle to levels reported to create significant cell damage in micro-channels. Experimental studies in the FACSVantage, operated under the same conditions as the simulations confirmed significant cell damage in two cell lines, Chinese Hamster Ovary cells (CHO) and THP1, a human acute monocytic leukemia cell line. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;100: 260-272.