Cellomics system

Abstract

In labeling a cell, and separating and collecting the cell according to a degree of the labeling using a cell separator, effects on the cell is minimized and the use of the collected cell is facilitated, thereby, when labeling a cell, the cell is labeled in the state where interaction of each cell is retained. In the labeling, a specific labeling material present on a surface of a target cell is taken in the cell via a transporter, and the cell is dispersed one by one to separate the same with a cell separator. Immediately after the separation, the cell is put in a solution not containing the specific labeling substance to remove the specific labeling substance taken in the cell. This series of steps is continuously conducted with a cell separation chip.

1 . A method of cytotechnology comprising the steps of:
 binding for identification, polynucleotide specifically binding to a surface antigen expressed in a cancer-derived cell and having a structure binding to a labeled substance with covalent bonding, to the surface antigen expressed in the cancer-derived cell in a group of sample cells to separate the cells; and   subjecting the separated cells to action of nuclease for decomposing the polynucleotide binding to the surface antigen expressed in the cancer-derived cell to obtain the cancer-derived cell, thereby determining the presence of cancer.   
     
     
         2 . A method of cytotechnology comprising the steps of:
 binding for identification, polynucleotide specifically having EpCAM bound to a surface antigen in a cancer-derived cell and having a structure binding to a labeled substance with covalent bonding, to a EpCAM bound surface antigen in the cancer-derived cell in a group of sample cells to separate the cells; and   subjecting the separated cell to action of nuclease for decomposing the polynucleotide having EpCAM bound to the surface antigen with the cancer-derived cell to obtain the cancer-derived cell, thereby determining the presence of cancer.   
     
     
         3 . A method of identifying a cell comprising the steps of:
 preparing an identification element having a configuration in which a labeled substance is bonded to an identification substance with covalent bonding, the labeled substance being polynucleotide specifically binding to a specific antigen present on a surface of a specific cell;   mixing a group of sample cells and the identification element to bind the polynucleotide to the antigen in the specific cell in the group of sample cells; and   employing the identification substance to identify the specific cell having the specific antigen;   wherein nuclease discomposing the polynucleotide is used as a reagent.   
     
     
         4 . A method of cytotechnique or cell identification according to  claim 1 , wherein the identification substance of the identification element is a fluorescent substance, and fluorescent detection is used for identifying a cell with the labeled substance in the identification element bonded thereto. 
     
     
         5 . A method of cytotechnique or cell identification according to  claim 1 , wherein the identification substance of the identification element is a particle or a magnetic particle, and particle imaging, scattered light detection or magnetic detection is used for identifying a cell with the labeled substance in the identification element bonded thereto.