Detection of Cell Aggregates using Quantitative Phase-Contrast Microscopy

Disclosed herein is a method for detecting cell aggregates of biological cells using a quantitative phase-contrast microscope and a device for detecting cell aggregates of biological cells. The method comprises preparing a suspension comprising biological cells from a sample and a viscoelastic fluid, wherein the viscoelastic fluid comprises a shear-thinning polymer having a molecular weight between 2 MDa and 10 MDa and wherein a mass fraction of the shear-thinning polymer in the suspension is less than 0.2%. A flow of the suspension is generated along a microfluidic channel to viscoelastically focus cell aggregates in the suspension in a focal plane of the quantitative phase-contrast microscope. One or more phase shift images of the biological cells in the suspension are taken using the quantitative phase contrast microscope and cell aggregates in the one or more phase shift images are identified.     «

Disclosed herein is a method for detecting cell aggregates of biological cells using a quantitative phase-contrast microscope and a device for detecting cell aggregates of biological cells. The method comprises preparing a suspension comprising biological cells from a sample and a viscoelastic fluid, wherein the viscoelastic fluid comprises a shear-thinning polymer having a molecular weight between 2 MDa and 10 MDa and wherein a mass fraction of the shear-thinning polymer in the suspension is le...     »