Mediaspace scheduled maintenance: Aug 25, 2026 07:00 - 12:00 AM. During this time, videos will be temporarily unavailable. Check status updates.

Lecture

Introduction to Flow Cytometry

In course

BIOENG-399: Immunoengineering

Immunoengineering is an emerging field where engineering principles are grounded in immunology. This course provides students a broad overview of how engineering approaches can be utilized to study immunology, model immune systems, modulate immune response ...

Description

This lecture provides an overview of flow cytometry, a powerful technology for analyzing thousands of cells per second and detecting multiple parameters within heterogeneous populations. The instructor, Miguel Garcia, covers the principles of flow cytometry, the components of a cytometer, the fluidics system, optics, lasers, filters, detectors, and electronic signal conversion. The lecture also delves into the applications of flow cytometry, such as immunophenotyping, cell cycle analysis, cell sorting, and analysis of rare cell populations. Additionally, it explores the concepts of fluorescence, fluorophores, and DNA analysis using flow cytometry techniques.

Instructor

Li Tang

Education and Training Postdoctoral Fellow, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2013 - 2016 Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2007 - 2012 B.S., Peking University, 2003-2007

Official source

Related concepts (32)

Laser

A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation. The word laser is an anacronym that originated as an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. The first laser was built in 1960 by Theodore Maiman at Hughes Research Laboratories, based on theoretical work by Charles H. Townes and Arthur Leonard Schawlow. A laser differs from other sources of light in that it emits light that is coherent.

Laser diode

A laser diode (LD, also injection laser diode or ILD, or diode laser) is a semiconductor device similar to a light-emitting diode in which a diode pumped directly with electrical current can create lasing conditions at the diode's junction. Driven by voltage, the doped p–n-transition allows for recombination of an electron with a hole. Due to the drop of the electron from a higher energy level to a lower one, radiation, in the form of an emitted photon is generated. This is spontaneous emission.

Flow cytometry

Flow cytometry (FC) is a technique used to detect and measure physical and chemical characteristics of a population of cells or particles. In this process, a sample containing cells or particles is suspended in a fluid and injected into the flow cytometer instrument. The sample is focused to ideally flow one cell at a time through a laser beam, where the light scattered is characteristic to the cells and their components. Cells are often labeled with fluorescent markers so light is absorbed and then emitted in a band of wavelengths.

Dye laser

A dye laser is a laser that uses an organic dye as the lasing medium, usually as a liquid solution. Compared to gases and most solid state lasing media, a dye can usually be used for a much wider range of wavelengths, often spanning 50 to 100 nanometers or more. The wide bandwidth makes them particularly suitable for tunable lasers and pulsed lasers. The dye rhodamine 6G, for example, can be tuned from 635 nm (orangish-red) to 560 nm (greenish-yellow), and produce pulses as short as 16 femtoseconds.

Laser medicine

Laser medicine consists in the use of lasers in medical diagnosis, treatments, or therapies, such as laser photodynamic therapy, photorejuvenation, and laser surgery. The word laser stands for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation". The laser was invented in 1960 by Theodore Maiman, and its potential uses in medicine were subsequently explored. Lasers benefit from three interesting characteristics: directivity (multiple directional functions), impulse (possibility of operating in very short pulses) and monochromaticity.

Related lectures (35)

Introduction to Flow Cytometry

Covers the principles, components, applications, and new technologies of flow cytometry, including cancer immunity and immunology.

Laser Fundamentals: Principles and Applications for Engineers

Covers the fundamentals of lasers, their historical development, and applications in engineering fields.

Semi-conductor laser and beam quality

Explores semi-conductor lasers, beam quality, direct vs. indirect bandgap, and M2 parameter significance.

Laser Systems: Theory and Applications

Covers the basic principles of laser operation, types of laser systems, noise characteristics, optical fibers, ultrafast lasers, and modern applications.

Laser fundamentals and applications