SIEVEWELL™: Ultra-Precise Single-Cell Analysis Platform for High Density Research

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Accelerate Discovery with a Single-Cell Platform That Seamlessly Fits Your Workflow

Single cell analysis has revolutionized how scientists study cellular heterogeneity, disease progression, and therapeutic response. Yet, conventional isolation methods often require complex instrumentation or produce inconsistent, low-yield results.

SIEVEWELL Slide offers a high-density, precision-engineered cell array platform that simplifies single-cell isolation using standard lab equipment. Its nanowell design and directional flow system enable efficient, reproducible capture of large numbers of viable single cells - without disrupting your existing workflow.

Built for flexibility, SIEVEWELL supports diverse formats for culture, analysis, and advanced cell-based assays. Whether you're running cytotoxicy studies, rare cell detection, or drug response profiling, SIEVEWELL gives you clarity, consistency, and control.  

 

Superior Single-Cell Capture Efficiency

Unlike conventional microcavity arrays that rely on statistical Poisson distribution for cell capture, SIEVEWELL utilizes a deterministic approach by directing liquid flow across an array of microcavities. Each cavity is equipped with two precisely fabricated through-holes at the bottom, manufactured using advanced semiconductor technologies.

This innovative mechanism enables:

•   Higher single-cell capture rates: Consistently exceeds capture rates predicted by the Poisson distribution across various cell types
•    On-chip cell culture and imaging: Captured single cells can be cultured directly on the chip and observed using an inverted microscope
•    Efficient medium exchange: Through-hole design allows for smooth medium replacement with minimal cell loss or disturbance to the captured cells

Ultra-High-Density Cell Arrays

SIEVEWELL Slide is offered in two nanowell configurations to accommodate diverse research needs:
•   20 μm nanowells: 370,000 wells within a compact 17×17 mm area
•   50 μm nanowells: 90,000 wells designed to support both single-cell culture—including spheroid formation—and cell-cell interaction assays

This high-density format significantly reduces the number of glass slides, reagent consumption, and imaging time compared to traditional low-density seeding methods.

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Minimal Cell Loss During Staining

SIEVEWELL enables repeated staining of captured single cells directly on the chip -with exceptionally low cell loss, even for fragile suspension cells.

The unique capability supports:

• Multi-marker staining workflows - perform sequential staining rounds without compromising sample integrity.
• Rare cell detection - increase sensitivity and confidence in identifying low-abundance populations like circulating tumor cells (CTCs).

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Versatile Applications Across Single-Cell Research

From immune cell interaction studies to 3D culture and secretion-based screening, SIEVEWELL supports a wide range of high-impact single-cell applications.

Explore key applications for the SIEVEWELL Slide below.

Immune Cell Killing Assays

SIEVEWELL facilitates sophisticated immune cell interaction studies:

• NK cell cytotoxicity: Monitor real-time killing of target cells
• Immunotherapy research: Assess the efficacy of therapeutic immune cells

By combining deterministic and statistical cell capture methods, SIEVEWELL achieves 1:1 pairing efficiency that surpasses what is possible with purely statistical approaches.

 

Secretion-Based Single-Cell Screening

By co-loading capture beads or antigen-presenting target cells, rare single cells that secrete bioactive compounds—such as antibodies—can be detected.

• Real-time monitoring: The secretion behavior of individual cells can be continuously monitored by culturing them in the presence of detection agents, such as capture beads and fluorescent dye-conjugated antibodies.
• Sensitive identification: Easy medium replacement with minimal disturbance to captured single cells enables the detection of rare secreting cells with reduced background fluorescence.

By culturing EBV-transformed human B cells with antibody capture beads and fluorescent detection antibodies, the secretion behavior of the B cells can be continuously monitored, allowing identification of the secreting cells.

 

Circulating Tumor Cell (CTC) Detection and Analysis

SIEVEWELL has proven invaluable for CTC research, enabling:

• Enhanced detection sensitivity: Rare CTCs can be detected through multi-marker staining of pre-enriched samples containing both CTCs and lymphocytes
• CTC detection in CDX/PDX mice: Blood from CDX/PDX mice can be processed after erythrocyte lysis. CTCs can then be identified either through multi-marker staining or directly if they express fluorescent proteins

Human PBMC spiked with MCF was loaded into SIEVEWELL. After PFA fixation on chip, mixture of Alexa 488 labelled anti pan-CK antibody, Alexa594 labelled anti CD45 antibody and DAPI was added. After 30 minutes incubation, cells were washed with PBS. Image was taken Leica DMI6000B.

Research conducted at University Hospital Düsseldorf demonstrated successful detection of CTCs in enriched blood samples from breast cancer patients using multiple on-chip staining. L. Yang et al. Cytometry 2022, 1-11.

Drug Response Monitoring at Single-Cell Resolution

The system enables detailed analysis of drug responses across individual cells:

• Real-time monitoring: Track cellular responses over extended periods
• Rare cell identification: Identify drug-resistant subpopulations
• Mechanism elucidation: Understand resistance development pathways

Studies using imatinib on K562 cells and etoposide on A549 cells have demonstrated the platform's ability to reveal cellular heterogeneity in drug responses that would be missed in bulk analyses.

Suspension Cell Culture from Single Cells

Traditional single-cell culture methods present significant challenges when working with suspension cells. SIEVEWELL addresses these limitations through:

• Stable positioning: Nanowells confine individual cells, maintaining consistent spatial localization within each well
• Growth tracking: Enables monitoring of proliferation from individual starting cells
• Clonal analysis: Facilitates investigation of cellular heterogeneity within cell lines
• Transient behavior detection: Supports observation of transient cellular responses—such as calcium signaling—at the single-cell level

Research has shown that even established cell lines like K562 contain subpopulations with distinct doubling times (18, 26, and 38 hours), insights that are difficult to obtain using conventional methods.

Spheroid Generation and Analysis

The nanowell surface is coated with a polymer that prevents cell adhesion, enabling the formation of small spheroids from adherent cells within the 50 μm nanowell format:

• High throughput: Capable of generating over 50,000 spheroids per device, most of which can be efficiently recovered via backflow
• Drug screening: Suitable for evaluating therapeutic compounds using 3D cellular models

Attachment Culturing

Non-coated formats are also available for culturing adherent cells, in both 20 μm and 50 μm nanowell sizes:

• Surface modification: Allows users to apply custom extracellular matrix coatings
• Long-term culture: Supports extended differentiation protocols

Differentiation studies using PC12 cells cultured under adherent conditions have demonstrated successful expression of neural markers and neurite outgrowth.

SIEVEWELL 20 μm was coated with Cellmatrix® Type IV (Collagen Type IV, Nitta Gelatin Inc). Rat pheochromocytoma cell line PC12 cells were loadetd into SIEVEWELL 20 μm. Cells were cultured with RPMI 1640/10%horse serum/5% fetal bovine serum containing 10 ng/μL NGF. After 7 days, cells were fixed with PFA, permiabilized with 0.05% Tween 20/PBS, blocked wtih 1％BSA/PBS, stained wtih mouse anti-rat Tubulin β3 (TUBB3) antibody (Clone, TUJ1) followed by staining with Alexa Fluor Plus 488 labelled anti mouse IgG antibody and DAPI. Images were taken with THUNDER Imaging Systems (Leica Microsystems).

Curious how SIEVEWELL supports your specilk research area? Speak with our scientific team to explore application compatibility.

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Empowering the Next Generation of Single-Cell Discovery

SIEVEWELL empowers researchers across diverse fields- from immunology and oncology to cell therapy and drug discovery- with flexible support to adapt to any workflow. Read be low haw we are shaping the future of single-cell analysis.

Emerging Applications:
• Screening of gene-edited cell libraries: Enables phenatyping of individual gene-edited cells
• Stem cell research: Supports detailed characterization of cellular reprogramming
• Organoid development: Facilitates the growth of organoids from single cells
• Plant cell biology: Enables single-cell analysis for agricultural and synthetic biology research

Technology Enhancements:
• Multi-well format: Allows simultaneous testing ofl multiple conditions on a single slide
• Expanded nanowell designs: Tailored nanawell configurations to support emerging applications
• Automati on compatibility: Plate formats designed for integration with automated handling systems
• Enhanced imaging capabilities: Compatible with confocal microscopy and other advanced imaging modalities

 

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The SIEVEWELL Difference

SIEVEWELL represents a fundamental advancement in single-cell analysis, combining high capture efficiency, minimal cell loss, and exceptional throughput in a simple, cost- effective format. lts precision-engineered design reduces reagent consumption, shortens imaging time, and eliminates the need tor specialized equipment- making high-resolution single- ce ll analysis more accessible than ever. As the field ad vances, SIEVEWELL delivers the performance and scalability needed to stay ahead.

See below how we compare over traditional approaches:

[ ✓ ] SIEVEWELL Slide

✅Superior single-cell capture
Deterministic design exceeds Poisson limitations

✅Minimal cell loss during staining
Less than 5% loss, even after multiple steps

✅High-throughput capability
Process 90,000-370,000 cells per slide

✅Simple lab setup
No need for cutom instrumentation

✅Streamlined protocol
Fewer steps, reduced hands-on time

 

[ Ⅹ ] Traditional Methods

❌Iconsistent capture
Relies on random cell distribution

❌High cell loss
More than 20% loss with standard protocols

❌Low throughput
Only hundreds to thousands of cells

❌Specialized equipment required
Often costly and complex

❌Cumbersome workflows
Requires multiple transfer and handling steps

 

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