Overview of single-cell analyses: microdevices and applications.

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Cell Biology
• Microfluidics

Background:

• Single-cell analysis has advanced significantly with microdevice development.
• Focus is shifting towards practical applications in biological and clinical settings.
• Numerous assays, including intracellular research, gene expression, and cell sorting, utilize these technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of single-cell analysis techniques.
• To describe the diverse biological assays performed using microdevices.
• To highlight the relationship between assay requirements and specific microdevice designs.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on microdevices for single-cell analysis.
• Categorization of single-cell assays based on biological applications.
• Description of various microdevice structures (well-, trap-, pattern-, droplet-based).

Main Results:

• Single-cell analysis encompasses a wide range of applications from molecular profiling to cell behavior studies.
• Different assays necessitate distinct microdevice architectures for optimal performance.
• Examples of microdevices include well-, trap-, pattern-, and droplet-based systems.

Conclusions:

• The choice of microdevice design is critical for the success of specific single-cell assays.
• Continued innovation in microdevice technology will further enhance biological and clinical research capabilities.
• This review serves as a guide for selecting appropriate microdevices for various single-cell analyses.