Flow Cytometry Analysis and Cell Sorting
The IBT Flow Cytometry and Cell Sorting Facility (FCCSF) provides diverse, technically sophisticated flow cytometry and cell sorting services, as well as the scientific expertise necessary to integrate this technology into research projects (Dr. Moczygemba).
CPRIT-funded GCC High Throughput Flow Cytometry Program for Drug Screening
Director, Margie Moczygemba, Ph.D.
Co-director, Cliff Stephan, Ph.D.
Services provided with automated HT flow cytometry for drug discovery:
- Speed: automated HT drug screening in hours vs days
- Scalability: can run large scale drug screens; ability to analyze hundreds to thousands of samples
- Customized projects: we offer various FDA approved and mechanistically annotated drug libraries
- ability to multiplex; high content platform generates lots of data
- detection of extracellular vesicles, exosomes, and nanoparticles with small particle detector on BioRad ZE5 cell analyzer
- informatics analysis with machine learning
- Cost effective (affordable): cancer projects get significant discount
Major Equipment
BD Biosciences FACSFusion Cell sorter:
- located in room 713 of the IBT Alkek building
- our sorter uses electrostatic droplet-based, high speed technology for isolating any combination of fluorescently labeled cell markers
- equipped with 4 lasers (405 nm, 488 nm, 561 nm, and 640 nm) and 15 filters for experiments requiring up to 15 multicolor analysis
- we have a variety of nozzle sizes/pressure configurations for sorting all types of cells including fragile ones
- can sort up to 50,000 events/second in temperature-controlled sample and collection chamber
- instrument is certified to perform BSL2 level sorting of single cells into 96 well plates, as well as bulk sorting into two or four tubes
- users are encouraged to contact Dr. Moczygemba or Ms. Isgandarova during the planning stages of their cell sorting experiment
Cytek Aurora Spectral Flow Cytometer
- located in IBT Flow Cytometry and Cell Sorting Core Facility (room 713)
- configured with 3 lasers (488, 567, and 640 nm) and 32 fluorescent channels (increased multi-parametric capability)
- provides full imaging spectra, which means each fluorochrome is analyzed across the entire light spectrum (spectral flow cytometry)
- provides high resolution data (ultrasensitive optics and low noise electronics)
- SpectroFlo software extracts autofluorescence background for all samples
BD Biosciences LSRII analytical flow cytometer
- located in room 719 IBT Alkek building
- equipped with 4 lasers (405 nm, 488 nm, 561 nm, and 640 nm) and 13 filters suitable for experiments requiring up to 13 color analysis plus forward and side scatter data acquisition
- for complex flow cytometry assays or if simply developing a new assay, users are encouraged to contact Dr. Moczygemba or Ms. Isgandarova during the planning stages of their experiment
- users have access to FlowJo data analysis software to customize their data analysis
Flow cytometry analyses commonly performed:
BD Biosciences FACSFusion Cell sorter:
- cell sorting from cell lines, primary cells and disaggregated tissues
- immunophenotyping, cellular cytotoxicity assays, apoptosis detection, kinetic studies, receptor endocytosis, cell cycle analysis, bacterial analysis, and others as needed.