The ability to isolate individual cells from a heterogeneous population underlies many different applications. However, conventional fluorescence-activated cell sorters (FACS) are notorious for compromising cell quality and are often largely inaccessible to researchers. The WOLF Cell Sorter from NanoCellect Biomedical was designed to overcome the many limitations of conventional FACS and has been widely adopted by those wishing to sort cells gently and easily. Now, with the launch of the new WOLF G2, the capabilities of the original instrument have been expanded to enable an even broader range of applications.
Because conventional FACS instruments use high pressure (20–70 psi) and generate shear forces when sorting cells, they can often cause Sorter Induced Cellular Stress (SICS). This manifests as unwanted cellular changes, such as proliferative defects, changes in expression profiles, or cell death, and can be especially problematic for researchers working with sensitive cell types like induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) or neurons. Other limitations of conventional FACS are its large sample requirement, high running costs, and the need for end-users to undergo extensive training. The instrumentation also has a sizeable footprint, meaning it is typically housed in a shared facility and must be reserved days, or even weeks, in advance.
The WOLF Cell Sorter was designed to overcome the challenges of conventional FACS and extend the utility of sorted cells. Microfluidic technology enables low pressure (<2 psi) sorting in either PBS or culture media for improved cell viability, while sterile and disposable cartridges eliminate the risks of aerosol generation and cross-contamination inherent to conventional FACS. Additional benefits of the WOLF Cell Sorter are its compact size (just 2 cubic feet), allowing for placement on the benchtop or inside a biosafety cabinet, and its affordable initial outlay and associated running costs. The WOLF is also incredibly easy to use, employing fixed optics and a user-friendly software interface that reduce the time taken for instrument set up and calibration to just 20 minutes. Moreover, where the WOLF is combined with the N1 Single-Cell Dispenser, cells can be sorted directly into 96- or 384-well microplates (including PCR plates) to greatly increase workflow efficiencies.
The WOLF G2 Cell Sorter is a second-generation instrument that provides the same benefits as the original WOLF while also offering several further advantages. Like the WOLF, the WOLF G2 uses laser-based flow cytometry technology for detecting and sorting cells. However, the WOLF G2 is configurable with two lasers (a 488 nm laser fitted as standard on the WOLF can be combined with either a 405, 561, or 637 nm laser on the WOLF G2) and up to nine fluorescent detection channels in addition to side and back scatter detection. All four lasers afford <500 MESF sensitivity and the WOLF G2 also offers high resolution, with the capacity to resolve 1 µm polystyrene beads using FSC.
Other instrument upgrades included in the WOLF G2 are a mechanism for easier insertion and removal of the disposable microfluidic cartridges and a leak sensor to prompt researchers to stop the pumps in the unlikely event of a leak being detected. The WOLF G2 also features a radio-frequency identification (RFID) system that removes the need to scan cartridges manually. As well as allowing information such as cartridge type and manufacturing date to easily be stored, the RFID reduces the likelihood of operator error during data entry.
Both the WOLF and the WOLF G2 can be used for a diverse range of applications. These include analyses that have historically been performed using conventional FACS, such as immunology research and the study of infectious diseases, as well as more recent innovations. For example, the WOLF cell sorters are ideally suited to single-cell genomics studies using primary tissue, blood, or cultured cells, where sample quality is essential to minimize signal-to-noise; and to cell-line development, where maintaining cell health is critical to maximize the number of viable clones growing per plate. The WOLF and WOLF G2 are also valuable tools for antibody development, improving the efficiency of antibody screening by sorting hybridomas into microplates; and for gene-editing workflows, where gentle cell sorting is key to ensuring gene expression, genomic stability, and overall cell health are preserved.
To find out how the WOLF and the WOLF G2 can benefit your research, visit nanocellect.com