A Self-Confined Single-Cell Loading Platform Combining PDMS Mesh and Patterned Cytop for Non-invasive Studies of Single Cell Secretions

Single cell analysis provides information of individual cells that is lost in measurements of large cell populations. There is a growing demand on the capability of characterizing the properties of individual single cells. Since transient and temporal studies of single cells require continuous monitoring of the cell behaviors, an effective single-cell assay that can support time lapsed studies in a high throughput manner is highly desirable. Currently, most single-cell technology platforms do not provide optimal in vitro micro-environments to sustain cell growth yet allow continuous studies of single cell behaviors based on the quantitative analysis of their molecular marker signals. In this study, we present a highly versatile single-cell assay to accommodate different cellular types and culturing conditions and to allow studies of single cell responses to environmental factors. Our assay is non-invasive and can collect and survey single cell secretions at different time points. It provides a convenient, low-cost, and enabling tool to investigate single cell properties in a high-throughput manner, generating accurate temporal and quantitative information unachievable in other methods.