Progress of Cell Sorting in Flow Cytometry

Abstract

Flow cytometry is a powerful technique for rapidly analyzing the physical and biological characteristics of small biological particles, such as cells, as well as sorting specific targets. This capability has made it indispensable in a range of biological fields, including cell sequencing, drug development, medical diagnosis, and environmental monitoring. Over the past few decades, these areas have been revolutionized by significant advancements in flow cytometry, facilitated by the expansion of bio-particle sorting applications. In particular, various innovative sorting technologies with improved detection accuracy have emerged. This paper reviews the principles and current development of conventional and microfluidic sorting approaches in flow cytometry and further introduces the diverse applications of flow cytometry in fields such as oncology and immunology. Despite notable progress, further research is essential to improve the accuracy of sorting and applicability of flow cytometry.