Cellular and biomolecular detection based on suspended microchannel resonators

Suspended microchannel resonators (SMRs) have been developed to measure the buoyant mass of single micro-/nanoparticles and cells suspended in a liquid. They have significantly improved the mass resolution with the aid of vacuum packaging and also increased measurement throughput by fast resonance frequency tracking while target objects travel through the microchannel without stopping or even slowing down. Since their invention, various biological applications have been enabled, including simultaneous measurements of cell growth and cell cycle progression, and measurements of disease associated physicochemical change, to name a few. Extension and advancement towards other promising applications with SMRs are continuously ongoing by adding multiple functionalities or incorporating other complementary analytical metrologies. In this paper, we will thoroughly review the development history, basic and advanced operations, and key applications of SMRs to introduce them to researchers working in biological and biomedical sciences who mostly rely on classical and conventional methodologies. We will also provide future perspectives and projections for SMR technologies.