Abstract

Microfluidics For High-Resolution Analysis of Genomic Adaptation, Rapid Immunodiagnostics and Beyond

Yuguang Liu, Assistant Professor, Mayo Clinic

Microfluidic technologies are revolutionizing our scientific research and healthcare practices in many aspects. This talk is focused on how we develop and use microfluidic tools to investigate long-standing unanswered questions in fundamental processes in biology and disease mechanisms, as well as to contribute to unmet clinical needs. Briefly, we present 1) how microfluidic tools have advanced our understanding in single microbial cells’ ability to genomically adapt to extreme stresses in unusual environments (e.g.,high UV radiation, extreme temperature cycles) by analyzing their point mutation; 2) how we use microdroplets to solicit and study the interaction between microbes and immune cells on a single cell level, and 3) the integration of microsensors (impedance and modified electrochemical microsensors) with a digital microfluidic device to detect key indicators of immune responsiveness to immune checkpoint inhibitors (e.g., immune cell subpopulations, extracellular vesicles and soluble molecules), which can eventually provide a tool to closely monitor the therapeutic responsiveness to cancer immunotherapies in an automated manner.