Microfluidics for Single-Cell Analysis

Necessary of Single-Cell Analysis

The cell is the basic functional unit of all organisms. Understanding cells’ morphology, composition, function, and genetic properties are of great significance for understanding biological principles, and diagnosing and treating diseases. Most cell studies have been limited to the macroscale analysis of cell populations. However, there are great differences between single cells in terms of morphology, size, gene expression, and growth characteristics. Therefore, analysis at the single-cell level becomes particularly important. Recently, introduction of microfluidic technology allows for isolation and characterization of single cells at the genome, transcriptome, proteome, or metabolome level, quantification and understand of cellular heterogeneity and function.

Microfluidics Technology for Single-Cell Analysis

The microfluidics technology provides an important tool for precise control of liquid composition, cell environment manipulation, and single cell handling.

Fig. 1 Microfluidics applied to single cell

The microfluidics technology for single cell analysis can be classified into three types based on how the single cells are compartmentalized: traps-based microfluidics, valves-based microfluidics, and droplet-based microfluidics.

Fig. 2 Different principles of microfluidics for single cell analysis

• Traps-based microfluidics use microfluidic chip with cell traps to capture and fix single cell in position with high efficiency and culture cell with low risk of contamination.
• Valve-based microfluidics can compartmentalize single cell and provide on-demand fluid exchange to achieve real-time monitoring of enzyme kinetics and protein expression profiling.
• Droplet-based microfluidics is a high-throughput screening platform for single cell culture, nucleic acid detection and analysis, protein crystallization, enzyme reaction kinetics.

Detection Techniques Integrated in Microfluidic System

Several detection techniques can be integrated in microfluidic system to achieve high-sensitivity, fast-response and low-cost single-cell analysis.

• Fluorescence
• Absorbancy
• Chemiluminiscence
• Raman spectrum
• Electrochemistry
• Mass spectrum

What We Can Do for You

STEMart uses microfluidics technology to offer a comprehensive single-cell analysis services which include but not limit to:

• Single-Cell Culture
• Single-Cell Isolation
• Single-Cell Lysis
• Single-Cell Sequencing
• Intercellular Interaction Studies

For more information about our single-cell analysis service, please contact us.