Novel Applications for the Flow Cytometry

Flow cytometry is a technology which measures physical properties and fluorescence of particles, for example cells, in monodisperse solution. Physical properties, like size and internal complexity, can be analyzed thanks to the interaction between particles and light which generates optical dispersion, reflection and diffraction; fluorescence can be used by binding or intercalating fluorescent molecules to cellular components or by linking them to monoclonal antibodies directed to specific surface or intracellular proteins. The labeled cells are carried by a laminar flow of isotonic fluid in front of a light source where the fluorophores can be excited by a specific wavelength: the resulting fluorescent light emissions are collected by an optical system consisting of filters and dichroic mirrors in order to isolate each wavelength and then convert it into digital signals. Flow cytometry has become an essential tool in clinical practice, particularly for diagnosis and for the classification of hematological malignancies.