{"title":"Development of droplet-based microfluidics in generation, manipulation and biomedical application","authors":"Yi Cai , Runze Sun , Yukun Ren , Yixing Gou","doi":"10.1016/j.microc.2025.113101","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Single-cell analysis is crucial for understanding cellular heterogeneity, identifying the unique biological characteristics of individual cells, and culturing cells <em>in vitro</em>. Droplet-based microfluidics is a promising technology that offers a high-throughput and sensitive approach for the separation and detection of biological particles. In this review, two primary methods of droplet generation in microfluidic platforms are introduced: passive and active method. Particularly in the context of active manipulation using various external field controls (e.g., electric, magnetic, and acoustic fields), is summarized. Furthermore, the latest advancements in droplet-based microfluidics for applications in circulating tumor cell (CTC) analysis, bacterial detection, and cell culture are systematically discussed. Finally, this review examines the prospectives and challenges of droplet-based microfluidics in single-cell analysis, with a particular emphasis on its potential applications in multifunctional integration and clinical translation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":391,"journal":{"name":"Microchemical Journal","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 113101"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Microchemical Journal","FirstCategoryId":"92","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0026265X25004552","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"CHEMISTRY, ANALYTICAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Single-cell analysis is crucial for understanding cellular heterogeneity, identifying the unique biological characteristics of individual cells, and culturing cells in vitro. Droplet-based microfluidics is a promising technology that offers a high-throughput and sensitive approach for the separation and detection of biological particles. In this review, two primary methods of droplet generation in microfluidic platforms are introduced: passive and active method. Particularly in the context of active manipulation using various external field controls (e.g., electric, magnetic, and acoustic fields), is summarized. Furthermore, the latest advancements in droplet-based microfluidics for applications in circulating tumor cell (CTC) analysis, bacterial detection, and cell culture are systematically discussed. Finally, this review examines the prospectives and challenges of droplet-based microfluidics in single-cell analysis, with a particular emphasis on its potential applications in multifunctional integration and clinical translation.
期刊介绍:
The Microchemical Journal is a peer reviewed journal devoted to all aspects and phases of analytical chemistry and chemical analysis. The Microchemical Journal publishes articles which are at the forefront of modern analytical chemistry and cover innovations in the techniques to the finest possible limits. This includes fundamental aspects, instrumentation, new developments, innovative and novel methods and applications including environmental and clinical field.
Traditional classical analytical methods such as spectrophotometry and titrimetry as well as established instrumentation methods such as flame and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, gas chromatography, and modified glassy or carbon electrode electrochemical methods will be considered, provided they show significant improvements and novelty compared to the established methods.