Inkjet‐Patterned Microdroplets as Individual Microenvironments for Adherent Single Cell Culture

• Published in: Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) Vol. 18; no. 19; pp. e2107992 - n/a
• Main Authors: Xie, Tianze, Zhang, Qiang, Zhang, Weifei, Feng, Shuo, Lin, Jin‐Ming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.05.2022
• Subjects: Adhesive strength; analytical methods; cell adhesion; Droplets; Elongation; Heterogeneity; microarrays; Microfluidics; Nanotechnology; open microfluidics; single cells; single cells; open microfluidics; analytical methods; cell adhesion; microarrays
• ISSN: 1613-6810; 1613-6829
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.202107992

Adhesion of single cells is the foundation of manifold cellular behaviors and life processes. However, investigating the function of a specific cell is still challenging due to deficiency of adhesion or interference from surrounding cells. Herein, an open microfluidic system is reported for culturing adherent single cells, implemented by a micrometer‐scale droplet matrix on an inkjet‐printed polylysine template. The target cells are isolated from any cell from other droplets, and their adhesion strength is determined to be comparable to conventional petri dishes via an in‐situ investigation with a microfluidic extractor. On this proposed platform, isolated single cells are observed to display an entirely distinct spreading behavior featuring total absence of elongation, indicating drastic cell behavior change from their “singleness.” This system has high versatility and compatibility for various assaying methods, assuring a promising potential in detailed single cell behavior and cell heterogeneity studies. Single cells are cultured on inkjet‐printed microculture dishes that support adhesion and spreading and assist restoration of their function. The openness of the system allows in situ analysis. Isolated single cells exhibit distinctness in morphology from previous studies where intercellular communication remains present, enticing future interest in isolated single cell behavior.