Microfluidic Devices in the Fast-Growing Domain of Single-Cell Analysis

Recent advances in cellular analysis revealed that the seemingly identical cells are heterogeneous in term of functionality, compositions, and genetic performance. These differences cause difficulty in the diagnostic for a specific model of disease. Detection of biomolecules such as DNA, RNA, and protein or analysis of cell(s), detection of cell surface molecules, and secreted protein, can help us to improve the understanding of a targeted disease and development of new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. A single-cell includes the minute quantity of these target molecules. Microfluidic devices have the ability to capture a single-cell and its lysate into a pico or femtoliter volumes droplet, or micro-well thus preventing dilution and limiting diffusion. In this review we described the advancement and limitations in microfluidic techniques used toward single-cells analysis.