# Gel Electromicrofluidics Assisted In Situ Single Cell Analysis

> **NSF 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · Kansas State University (KS) · $450,000

## Abstract

Analyzing single cells under a microscope is a powerful tool in healthcare, medicine, and homeland security. Typically, biological samples are spread onto glass slides for microscopic examination to detect pathogens or identify biowarfare agents. Current single-cell imaging systems use high-resolution microscopy, which captures only a small sample volume, resulting in limited sensitivity. This project will develop a gel electromicrofluidics (GEM) platform that enhances single-cell imaging by amplifying small, hard-to-detect cells into large, bright fluorescent spots. The technology will improve both sensitivity and throughput, enabling rapid and accurate disease diagnostics. The research will be integrated across several educational fronts, including student-designed projects, graduate program development, undergraduate research opportunities, and outreach programs.

This research will establish a GEM-assisted platform, which incorporates sensing gel, electromicrofluidics, and electrokinetic manipulations, for rapid, sensitive, in situ single-cell analysis. The sensing gel will be engineered to amplify small, difficult-to-detect target cells into large, highly fluorescent DNA colonies, allowing visualization of single-cell signals using low-resolution microscopy. This will greatly enhance both sampling efficiency and detection sensitivity. Electromicrofluidics will be used to spread the gel evenly across smear samples via electrowetting, which will eliminate air trapping, a common issue in manual gel spreading, and ensure efficient cell recovery. Additionally, electro-aligned gel and electro-confined polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which leverage electric polarization and dipole-dipole interactions to align gel polymers and DNA molecules, will be studied to advance the mechanistic understanding of the electrokinetic processes involved in gel polymerization and PCR amplification. These electrokinetic manipulations will concentrate DNA and increase fluorescence int

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2517022
- **Awardee organization:** Kansas State University (KS)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** CFMMM5JM7HJ9
- **PI:** Jing Ding
- **Primary program:** 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** SENSORS AND SENSING SYSTEMS, Sensor Technology, EXP PROG TO STIM COMP RES
- **Estimated total:** $450,000
- **Funds obligated:** $450,000
- **Transaction type:** Standard Grant
- **Period:** 07/01/2026 → 06/30/2029

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2517022

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2517022, Gel Electromicrofluidics Assisted In Situ Single Cell Analysis. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-20 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2517022. Licensed CC0.

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