Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Single-cell mass-density measurements using microchannel gradient centrifugation

Soller, Richard LU ; Augustsson, Per LU and Barnkob, Rune LU (2026) In Scientific Reports 16(1).
Abstract

We present a microchannel-based adaptation of mass density-gradient centrifugation for the mass density measurement of cells or microparticles. The workflow consists of three basic steps: Microchannel filling, centrifugation, and microscopy. Microchannel filling and subsequent centrifugation of two liquids with different densities allows the instantaneous, precise, and repeatable generation of a one-dimensional mass-density gradient and the simultaneous sedimentation of cells or particles of interest to a point where their mass density is equal to the gradient’s mass density. We introduce two different methods, calibration particles and tracer molecules, for microscopic mass density readout. We demonstrate the measurement principle by... (More)

We present a microchannel-based adaptation of mass density-gradient centrifugation for the mass density measurement of cells or microparticles. The workflow consists of three basic steps: Microchannel filling, centrifugation, and microscopy. Microchannel filling and subsequent centrifugation of two liquids with different densities allows the instantaneous, precise, and repeatable generation of a one-dimensional mass-density gradient and the simultaneous sedimentation of cells or particles of interest to a point where their mass density is equal to the gradient’s mass density. We introduce two different methods, calibration particles and tracer molecules, for microscopic mass density readout. We demonstrate the measurement principle by measuring the mass density of yeast cells and show that the method allows the mass density measurement of single cells with a position dependent median uncertainty of 3.3 with a throughput of approximately 16000 cells per hour. This measurement precision is in the range of the best single-cell methods currently in use but with a higher throughput. The method is technically straightforward, robust, and affordable, making single-cell mass density measurements widely available.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Scientific Reports
volume
16
issue
1
article number
6501
publisher
Nature Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • scopus:105030193053
  • pmid:41688604
ISSN
2045-2322
DOI
10.1038/s41598-026-38872-2
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
0b8e2de6-f687-4bba-ae5b-2c27af9d14ab
date added to LUP
2026-02-27 11:27:23
date last changed
2026-05-23 00:34:01
@article{0b8e2de6-f687-4bba-ae5b-2c27af9d14ab,
  abstract     = {{<p>We present a microchannel-based adaptation of mass density-gradient centrifugation for the mass density measurement of cells or microparticles. The workflow consists of three basic steps: Microchannel filling, centrifugation, and microscopy. Microchannel filling and subsequent centrifugation of two liquids with different densities allows the instantaneous, precise, and repeatable generation of a one-dimensional mass-density gradient and the simultaneous sedimentation of cells or particles of interest to a point where their mass density is equal to the gradient’s mass density. We introduce two different methods, calibration particles and tracer molecules, for microscopic mass density readout. We demonstrate the measurement principle by measuring the mass density of yeast cells and show that the method allows the mass density measurement of single cells with a position dependent median uncertainty of 3.3 with a throughput of approximately 16000 cells per hour. This measurement precision is in the range of the best single-cell methods currently in use but with a higher throughput. The method is technically straightforward, robust, and affordable, making single-cell mass density measurements widely available.</p>}},
  author       = {{Soller, Richard and Augustsson, Per and Barnkob, Rune}},
  issn         = {{2045-2322}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{Scientific Reports}},
  title        = {{Single-cell mass-density measurements using microchannel gradient centrifugation}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-38872-2}},
  doi          = {{10.1038/s41598-026-38872-2}},
  volume       = {{16}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}