Label-Free Isolation and Single Cell Biophysical Phenotyping Analysis of Primary Cardiomyocytes Using Inertial Microfluidics

To advance the understanding of cardiomyocyte (CM) identity and function, appropriate tools to isolate pure primary CMs are needed. A label-free method to purify viable CMs from mouse neonatal hearts is developed using a simple particle size-based inertial microfluidics biochip achieving purities of over 90%. Purified CMs are viable and retained their identity and function as depicted by the expression of cardiac-specific markers and contractility. The physico-mechanical properties of sorted cells are evaluated using downstream real-time deformability cytometry. CMs exhibited different physico-mechanical properties when compared with non-CMs. Taken together, this CM isolation and phenotyping method could serve as a valuable tool to progress the understanding of CM identity and function, and ultimately benefit cell therapy and diagnostic applications.

Automated summary

A label-free method using inertial microfluidics is developed to purify viable cardiomyocytes from mouse neonatal hearts with purities over 90%. The isolated cardiomyocytes retain their identity and function, exhibiting different physico-mechanical properties compared to non-cardiomyocytes. This method could be a valuable tool for advancing the understanding of cardiomyocyte identity and function, with potential benefits for cell therapy and diagnostic applications.