In the dynamic landscape of preclinical drug development, optimizing cell sorting for high viability is crucial. For those of us working with sensitive biological samples, achieving accurate results while ensuring cell health can seem like a balancing act. At Nodexus, we understand these challenges and are here to guide you through the process of fine-tuning your cell sorting techniques. In this blog, we will delve into strategies and tips that can help increase the viability of cells post-sorting, allowing you to drive your drug discovery efforts forward with confidence.
Understanding the Importance of Cell Viability
To kick things off, let’s discuss why cell viability is a cornerstone of preclinical drug development. When cells are sorted, their structural integrity and metabolic functions must remain intact to yield reliable experimental outcomes. Higher cell viability post-sorting translates to more accurate data in downstream applications such as drug screening, CRISPR gene editing, and disease modeling. As researchers, our primary goal is to minimize the variables that can confound our results, and optimizing cell viability is a significant step toward achieving this objective.
Choosing the Right Sorting Technology
The technology you employ for cell sorting can make or break your experiments. Traditional sorting methods, which often subject cells to high pressures and shear forces, can inflict considerable stress on cells, leading to decreased viability. Alternatively, our experience with microfluidics-based systems like the Nodexus NX One shows that they offer a gentle approach to sorting. Utilizing pressures as low as 0.7 psi, these systems ensure that cells are less stressed, promoting higher post-sort viability and reducing the risk of complications in subsequent assays.
Sample Preparation: The First Line of Defense
Proper sample preparation is crucial to maintaining cell health before and after sorting. Our team advocates for meticulous sample handling to prevent aggregation and clogging in sorting instruments. Debris and dead cells should be removed through filtration or centrifugation before introducing a sample into the sorter. Moreover, using specially formulated buffers that support cell viability can further safeguard against potential stressors induced by the sorting process.
Optimizing Sorting Parameters
Each cell type is unique, and so should be the sorting parameters tailored to them. Optimal flow rates, nozzle sizes, and sheath pressures are not one-size-fits-all; they require careful adjustment according to the specific cell characteristics and experimental requirements. At Nodexus, our plug-and-play sorting solutions facilitate easy optimization through user-friendly interfaces, allowing researchers to quickly adjust sorting protocols to maximize viability for any given cell type or workflow.
Minimizing Sorter-Induced Cellular Stress
Sorter-induced cellular stress (SICS) is a formidable factor that can compromise cellular health. Understanding that traditional flow cytometers can cause metabolic disruptions is critical. By employing advanced microfluidic technology, such as the NX One system, we can minimize shear forces and significantly reduce sorter-induced stress. This subtle yet powerful change results in higher cell survival rates and more dependable experimental outcomes.
Post-Sorting Care: Ensuring Cell Recovery
Once the cells are sorted, care should be taken to ensure their recovery and continued viability. Immediate post-sort conditions, such as temperature and recovery media, should closely mimic the cells’ natural environment to promote recovery and growth. This extra attention can dramatically boost cell survival and enhance the integrity of subsequent data interpretation, vital for preclinical assessments.
Leveraging Advanced Technologies: A Nodexus Case Study
At Nodexus, we’ve seen firsthand how leveraging advanced technologies can transform cell sorting. Our NX One and NX One MAX systems, for instance, have been designed to address many of the traditional challenges faced in cell sorting. By providing ultra-gentle and contamination-free sorting, these systems are particularly well-suited for delicate samples like iPSCs or organoids. Feedback from the field has consistently highlighted improvements in cell viability and data reliability, crucial for scaling innovative preclinical research.
Conclusion: Empowering Your Research
As we strive to elevate the quality and impact of drug development research, it’s vital to employ strategies that maximize cell viability across sorting workflows. From adopting advanced microfluidic technology to tailoring experimental parameters to each unique cell type, there are myriad ways to refine your approach. We’re here to help you navigate these choices, offering solutions like the Nodexus NX One MAX that are designed with precision and efficiency in mind. Embrace these innovations and transform your scientific journey—from bench to breakthrough. Your next significant discovery could be just a careful sort away.
