Interest in organ-on-a-chip technologies has increased in recent years, particularly in the field of pharmacological testing. However, the current methods largely lack the capabilities of manipulating biological models made of spheroids, organoids, or single cells. Especially working with highly sensitive cells, such as stem cells (induced pluripotent stem cells; iPSCs) or neurons is challenging, thereby hindering their efficient use in such systems.

Cytosurge‘s FluidFM^® OMNIUM system is designed for single cell research. Its proprietary FluidFM^® technology combines force microscopy with microfluidics and enables gentle cell manipulation while preserving cell viability. The technology is especially suited for neurons, where maintaining the viability of manipulated cells is challenging. With its high precision, the FluidFM^® OMNIUM can precisely place single neurons in pre-defined patterns to control their growth into complex systems.

Now the unique capabilities of Cytosurge’s FluidFM^® OMNIUM system will be leveraged through the neuroscience expertise of LBB, ETH Zurich, led by Prof. Janos Vörös. The aim is to develop a method for autonomous recognition of viable neurons and their automatic repositioning into a defined pattern. Neuroscientists can then efficiently build highly defined complex model systems for neurodegenerative diseases starting from single neurons.

By advancing Cytosurge’s FluidFM^® technology for the study of neuronal functioning at the single cell level, the partners have a shared vision to provide tools that can efficiently enable the realization of new organ-on-a-chip systems that could better mimic various neuropathies, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS and many more.

We conduct interdisciplinary research at the interface between engineering, nanotechnology, materials science, medicine, and biology.

We apply our knowledge for developing new nanoscale tools and methods for biosensing, diagnostics, and interfacing biology. We also develop new biomedical devices using stretchable electronics.

Besides our application-oriented activities, we are also interested in answering basic research questions about how our brain processes and stores information using controlled neural networks that we analyze with machine learning.

For more information, visit www.lbb.ethz.ch.

Cytosurge, a Swiss-based global leader in precision single cell manipulation, was founded in 2009 by scientists at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich).

The company develops, manufactures, and distributes state-of-the-art nanotechnology solutions and systems based on its patented FluidFM^® technology, designed for single cell research. This technology combines force microscopy with microfluidics and enables gentle cell manipulation while preserving cell viability and is especially suited for brain cells such as neurons. With its solutions, Cytosurge brings significant benefits to a wide range of life science applications.

Worldwide, more than 100 laboratories are already using FluidFM^® systems, pushing conventional technological boundaries in CRISPR cell line development, mechanobiology, virology, single cell omics, neuroscience, and nanoprinting.

For more information, visit www.cytosurge.com.

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