Microfluidic flow cytometry

Flow cytometry is widely used by researchers and in clinical diagnostics to quantify immune cell subsets, activation states, cytokine expression, and cell cycle or apoptosis because it delivers multiparametric, single‑cell data. Even in cell therapy manufacturing it is used for in‑process control and release testing because it enables standardized, quantitative pass/fail criteria. At the Fraunhofer IMM we are developing methods for the miniaturization and automation of flow cytometry by employing microfluidics.

This enable us to use only tiny sample and reagent volumes, which is ideal for precious or scarce clinical materials. A faster staining and washing of cells is achieved via on‑chip workflows and short diffusion paths, cutting turnaround time. Gentle, well‑controlled shear stresses without centrifugation preserve the viability and phenotype of sensitive cells such as endothelial cells or leukocytes. Sheathless or low‑sheath focusing options reduce consumables and simplify the instrument. Compact, modular hardware supports decentralized deployment outside cleanrooms.

Our complete technical solutions can be integrated into other systems or used as online analysis tools for in-process testing or quality control.

Your benefits

• System solution with high precision and sensitivity 
• Straight-forward integration as a sub-function within complete systems 
• Availability at the point of need 
• Process integration, e.g., via bypass sampling (online monitoring) 
• Increased sampling frequency through fully automated workflows 
• Reduced sample and reagent consumption thanks to microfluidic processing 
• Cost savings by eliminating manual handling steps 

Our success factors

• Coverage of the full technology chain for system development 
• Many years of experience in optics and fluidics for flow cytometry across diverse application fields 
• Extensive expertise in targeted manipulation of objects in microfluidic flows 
• High flexibility in customizing existing solutions to customer needs 
• Continuous advancement of the technology portfolio across multiple projects 
• Cooperative network within the Fraunhofer Society 

Typical application areas

• Diagnostics 
• Research and Development
• Determination of microbial load in water or aqueous solutions 
• Quality control in pharmaceutical production 
• Process monitoring, e.g., in biotechnology or beverage manufacturing