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Enriching microlaser-labelled cells by commercial flow cytometry-based cell sorting systems

Koenig, M.; Plaskocinski, T. T.; Popczyk, A.; Titze, V. M.; Gaedke, F.; Germer, M.; Schumacher, A.-L.; Schmidt, A. M.; Schubert, M.; Gather, M. C.

2026-10-05 bioengineering
10.64898/2026.10.02.756078 bioRxiv
Show abstract

Microlasers based on whispering-gallery modes (WGMs) provide bright, spectrally narrow emission, making them ideal optical probes for high-resolution cellular tagging, single-cell tracking, and biosensing. To reproducibly apply WGM microlasers in biomedical or tissue-engineering contexts, control over the number of lasers in a cell population is highly desirable. Here we use a commercial instrument for flow cytometry-based cell sorting to obtain HEK293T cell populations with a controlled number of polystyrene laser particles (LPs). By modifying the particle surface with poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI) or lipofectamine, we enhance LP-association to cells. We demonstrate that our sorting procedure yields viable cells showing unchanged proliferation rates. Manufacturer-dependent differences in particle-cell interactions were observed and investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM/TEM) and flow cytometry. Finally, we show that the same sorting approach enables the generation of multi-cellular spheroids with a defined ratio of LP-containing and LP-free cells. This work lays the foundation for larger tissue engineering studies with defined LP populations and control over LP-placement with respect to the cell.

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