Fig 1. An overview of the optical cell separation procedure.

(A) Cell encapsulation in the PD-gelatin hydrogel. 4T1E cells were encapsulated in photodegradable hydrogels prepared by mixing azide-gelatin solution and DBCO-PC-4armPEG solution. (B) Optical cell separation from the PD-gelatin hydrogel. The target cells are irradiated with UV light and subsequently retrieved after hydrogel degradation. (C) Microscopic images of 4T1E cells, and colony- and granular-type cells to be separated by use of the optical cell separation process.