Longitudinal Sequencing of Single Cells Using Nanotubes

The aim of this project is to develop a device capable of performing longitudinal (i.e. over time) mRNA sampling measurements on multiple cells, at the single cell level, in a minimally invasive manner.

By extracting and analysing mRNA extracted from the same cell at different time points, and scale this operation to a sizable cell population, we will extract unique information, not available using today’s technologies, such as the detailed response of a cell population to a therapeutic compound.

This will be achieved using nanotube-electroporation for sampling cells, and by labeling the extracted nucleotides with a barcode allowing to trace them back to their cell of origin, before performing sequencing.

The project will start with optimizing the mRNA extraction using nanotube-electroporation on a large cell population before moving to longitudinal single cell sequencing in a small number of cells, and subsequenlty increasing the number of cells interfaced by the device. The technology will be applied to cancer research.

Cancer relapse is thought to be due to a small cell sub-population or, in some cases, to a single cell being able to survive treatement.

The newly developed technology will be able to analyse this phenomenom with unprecedented precision, by determining the response of a population of cancer cells to a anti-cancer treatment at the single cell level. The project will make a strong impact on the understanding of cancer and the development of cancer therapies.