Microfluidic Impedance Flow Cytometer for Stem Cell Discrimination

Adult pluripotent stem cells have been presented as an alternative in the stem cells research to replace the utilization of embryonic stem cells which pose ethical dilemma. The possibility of harvesting adult pluripotent stem cells for medical purposes resulted in a growing interest in stem cell research. In particular, researchers need to identify differentiation state of stem cells in a fast and reliable way. The process in which a stem cell turns to a particular mature cell with specific germ layer type is called differentiation. Stem cells can differentiate into three types of germ layers: ectoderm, mesoderm or endoderm, which make up different tissues and organs of the body.