# Researchers sort cells by electrical function without external labels

_Published Wednesday, November 11, 2026 at 2:30 PM EST · Science · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

![Researchers sort cells by electrical function without external labels — Primary](https://scx2.b-cdn.net/gfx/news/2026/a-cell-sorting-chip-th.jpg)

Researchers in Singapore and China demonstrated a chip that sorts cells by electrical properties without attaching external labels, including cells with no obvious difference in size or shape. The study appeared in Small Methods.

A polymer solution aligns cells, electrodes measure their responses at 1 and 5 megahertz, and a timed sound wave diverts selected cells into a collection outlet.

Sorting differently sized cells reached up to 98% purity. The harder test, separating engineered cells by their functional electrical state, achieved 85.4% purity because responses overlapped. Research and drug screening are the nearest-term applications; clinical samples remain a future goal.

## Sources

- [Phys.org](https://phys.org/news/2026-11-chip-cells-electrical-signature-precisely.html)

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Canonical: https://techandbusiness.org/newswire/KDaebpR3jKy_rhDZK7NgeT
Published: 2026-11-11T19:30:50.798Z
Story chronology: 2026-11-11T19:20:09.000Z
Retrieved: 2026-11-12T00:59:30.362Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)