Controlled organelle transfer between live single cells by using microfluidic device

We previously reported a novel cell fusion method using microfluidic device, in which paired single-cells were fused through a microslit. This method enabled direct mitochondria transfer to the fusion partner without nuclear mixing [1,2], however, it cannot regulate amount of the mitochondria transferred. We herein report that quantitative control of mitochondria transfer can be performed by using newly developed microfluidic devices. When cell fusion was induced through different length of microtunnels, amount of the mitochondria transferred to the fusion partner decreased according to elongation of the microtunnel length.