Nanocrystalline diamond microspikes increase the efficiency of ultrasonic cell lysis in a microfluidic lab-on-a-chip

This research demonstrates that use of Nanocrystalline Diamond (NCD) microspikes in a microfluidic chamber increases the efficiency of mechanical cell lysis, as compared to a standard microfluidic surface such as glass. Microspikes made of nanocrystalline diamond were fabricated using standard MEMS techniques, and were incorporated in microfluidic chamber developed as part of a lab on a chip system. Mechanical cell lysis was performed on B16-F10 (ATCC CRL-6475) murine melanoma cells using ultrasonic vibration and the efficiency of cell lysis was determined. The microspikes puncture the cell membranes on collision greatly increasing the efficiency of cell lysis (about 400% as per fluorescence measurements) as compared to a non-textured glass surface. The effect of using cell disruption glass beads during ultrasonic lyses was also explored. This methodology of cell disruption could potentially make mechanical cell lysis a viable and preferred lysis option for lab-on-a-chip applications.