Single cells as experimentation units in lab-on-a-chip devices

Single cells as experimentation units in lab-on-a-chip devices

‘Lab-on-a-chip’ technology (LOC) has now reached a mature state and is employed commonly in research in the life sciences. LOC devices make novel experimentation possible while providing a sophisticated environment for cellular investigation. As a next step, we introduce here the concept of a ‘lab-in-a-cell’: the use of a single cell as a minimal and highly confined experimental unit, or experimentation in the simple, but still unequalled, platform provided by nature itself. LOC provides the appropriate format and set of tools for LIC experimentation, and we discuss here three types of LIC investigation: the elucidation of signaling pathways; the creation of novel production units; and the use of microfluidics for assisted reproduction techniques.

LIC experimentation in LOC device: LIC in LOC. From left to right: a conventional optical setup that comprises a microscope equipped with an epi-fluorescent unit and a camera for LOC or cellular experimentation; a LOC device placed on the microscope stage and developed for LIC experimentation; an array of trapping sites for LIC experimentation, with all trapping sites being connected to individual channels for individual treatment/analysis of the LIC platforms; and enlarged view of a trapping site where a single cell or an individual LIC platform has been trapped for LIC experimentation. The internal structures and organelles of the cells can be used for highly confined experimentation.

More information can be found in the published opinion article in “Trends in Biotechnology”: http://www.cell.com/trends/biotechnology/archive

For more information please contact Séverine Le Gac at s.legac@utwente.nl