Researchers Developed Handheld Living Cell Collector

A new microfluidic device allows scientists to harvest viable cells from tissue samples for advanced medical research.

Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Life Sciences

Isometric editorial illustration of a translucent 3D-printed handheld device featuring internal fluid channels. — Researchers at MIT and Johns Hopkins have developed a handheld 3D-printed microfluidic device that enables the collection of viable cells from tissue samples for medical study. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Researchers at MIT and Johns Hopkins University have created a 3D-printed handheld device designed to extract living cells from tissue. This innovation enables the study of cell behavior in ways previously limited by traditional pathology methods that rely on chemically preserved, dead tissue samples.

Why it matters

By collecting living cells instead of dead samples, scientists can grow organoids to better study disease progression and behavior. This shift is critical for research into complex conditions like ovarian cancer, where understanding live cellular interaction is vital for developing effective therapies.

The device utilizes a dual-syringe mechanism, where one syringe establishes a vacuum seal against the tissue and the second drives fluid through microfluidic channels. Testing confirmed that collected cells remained viable for culture.

The players

Kripa Varanasi

He is a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who led the research team in developing the cell collection device.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

This prestigious research university served as the primary development site for the new microfluidic harvesting technology.

Johns Hopkins University

This academic institution acted as a key partner in the project and provided the human tissue samples used for testing.

The details

The handheld instrument uses a microfluidic channel to shear cells from the surface of tissue, allowing for immediate culturing. Researchers successfully used the system to grow organoids from living cells harvested during lab trials.

The research team published their findings describing the device on September 28, 2026.

The Big Picture

This invention fundamentally shifts the paradigm of pathology by moving from static, preserved samples to live, dynamic cellular models. By facilitating the growth of organoids from fresh tissue, this device provides the high-quality material required by the National Cancer Institute's Organoid Research Program to model tumor environments.

This technology may eventually allow clinicians to collect high-quality cellular samples during minimally invasive procedures without destroying the tissue. Such advancements could lead to faster development of personalized cancer treatments and more accurate diagnostic testing in the near future.

The takeaway

This breakthrough provides a cleaner, more efficient way for researchers to gather the living specimens necessary for modern medical study. Future iterations of this handheld tool could eventually allow for direct cellular collection inside the patient, significantly streamlining biopsy processes.