{"title":"Droplets in open microfluidics: generation, manipulation, and application in cell analysis.","authors":"Jiaxu Lin, Ying Hou, Qiang Zhang, Jin-Ming Lin","doi":"10.1039/d4lc00646a","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Open droplet microfluidics is an emerging technology that generates, manipulates, and analyzes droplets in open configuration systems. Droplets function as miniaturized reactors for high-throughput analysis due to their compartmentalization and parallelization, while openness enables addressing and accessing the targeted contents. The convergence of two technologies facilitates the localization and intricate manipulation of droplets using external tools, showing great potential in large-scale chemical and biological applications, particularly in cell analysis. In this review, we first introduce various methods of droplet generation and manipulation in open environments. Next, we summarize the typical applications of open droplet systems in cell culture. Then, a comprehensive overview of cell analysis is provided, including nucleic acids, proteins, metabolites, and behaviors. Finally, we present a discussion of current challenges and perspectives in this field.</p>","PeriodicalId":85,"journal":{"name":"Lab on a Chip","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1000,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Lab on a Chip","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d4lc00646a","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"BIOCHEMICAL RESEARCH METHODS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Open droplet microfluidics is an emerging technology that generates, manipulates, and analyzes droplets in open configuration systems. Droplets function as miniaturized reactors for high-throughput analysis due to their compartmentalization and parallelization, while openness enables addressing and accessing the targeted contents. The convergence of two technologies facilitates the localization and intricate manipulation of droplets using external tools, showing great potential in large-scale chemical and biological applications, particularly in cell analysis. In this review, we first introduce various methods of droplet generation and manipulation in open environments. Next, we summarize the typical applications of open droplet systems in cell culture. Then, a comprehensive overview of cell analysis is provided, including nucleic acids, proteins, metabolites, and behaviors. Finally, we present a discussion of current challenges and perspectives in this field.
期刊介绍:
Lab on a Chip is the premiere journal that publishes cutting-edge research in the field of miniaturization. By their very nature, microfluidic/nanofluidic/miniaturized systems are at the intersection of disciplines, spanning fundamental research to high-end application, which is reflected by the broad readership of the journal. Lab on a Chip publishes two types of papers on original research: full-length research papers and communications. Papers should demonstrate innovations, which can come from technical advancements or applications addressing pressing needs in globally important areas. The journal also publishes Comments, Reviews, and Perspectives.