From single cells to artificial cells: How microfluidics can contribute to a better understanding of cellular processes

Abstract

Nowadays, microfluidics is an established toolbox for single-cell analysis. The huge potential of microfluidics lies in the advanced ability in handling and positioning of cells, creating chemically-defined liquid environments, and tailoring mechanical or physical conditions. We are developing solutions for the analysis of single cells and single-cell response to external variations (Figure 1). Combinations of microfluidic cell trapping and encapsulation in microchambers accommodating volumes of tens to hundreds of picoliters facilitates analyses of living cells and chemical analysis of cell lysates with unprecedented high sensitivity, which will be demonstrated in several examples. Living cells are complex systems with numerous processes making it difficult to study a distinct cellular pathway. To overcome these difficulties, we create and employ model membrane systems. These vesicles allow detailed fundamental studies, addressing questions of membrane permeability, membrane fusion and membrane deformation.