Sorting and isolating single cells is a key sample preparation step in many contemporary workflows including genome editing by CRISPR/Cas9, single cell genomics and differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSCs) along with a broad range of other methods. Cell Microsystems has developed the CellRaftA microscale polystyrene growth surface within an array used to spatially segregate cells/colonies while maintaining shared media access, enabling imaging over time and targeted isolation. AIR®; System to allow imaging-activated cell sorting and isolation of single living cells prior to these downstream analyses. Here, we present optimized methods for staining live cells on the Cell Microsystems CellRaft ArrayConsumables containing thousands of microwells (containing CellRafts) for spatial segregation, imaging, and isolation of single cells, monoclonal colonies, or 3D cultures., a microwell array with releasable single cell isolation features called CellRafts. We also describe the use of the automated, bench-top AIR®; System for imaging and isolating vital dye-stained single cells using the CellRaft Technology.
