Issue 6, 2016

High spatial and temporal resolution cell manipulation techniques in microchannels

Abstract

The advent of microfluidics has enabled thorough control of cell manipulation experiments in so called lab on chips. Lab on chips foster the integration of actuation and detection systems, and require minute sample and reagent amounts. Typically employed microfluidic structures have similar dimensions as cells, enabling precise spatial and temporal control of individual cells and their local environments. Several strategies for high spatio-temporal control of cells in microfluidics have been reported in recent years, namely methods relying on careful design of the microfluidic structures (e.g. pinched flow), by integration of actuators (e.g. electrodes or magnets for dielectro-, acousto- and magneto-phoresis), or integrations thereof. This review presents the recent developments of cell experiments in microfluidics divided into two parts: an introduction to spatial control of cells in microchannels followed by special emphasis in the high temporal control of cell-stimulus reaction and quenching. In the end, the present state of the art is discussed in line with future perspectives and challenges for translating these devices into routine applications.

Graphical abstract: High spatial and temporal resolution cell manipulation techniques in microchannels

Article information

Article type
Tutorial Review
Submitted
05 jan 2016
Accepted
11 feb 2016
First published
11 feb 2016
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Analyst, 2016,141, 1888-1905

High spatial and temporal resolution cell manipulation techniques in microchannels

P. Novo, M. Dell'Aica, D. Janasek and R. P. Zahedi, Analyst, 2016, 141, 1888 DOI: 10.1039/C6AN00027D

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