Microfluidic devices for cellomics: a general overview of the field

A review of microfluidic devices for cellomics is presented. After a brief description of the historical background of Lab-on-Chip (LOC) devices, different areas are reviewed. Devices for cell sampling are presented, followed by cell trapping and cell sorting devices based upon mechanical and electrical principles. The next section describes devices for cell treatment: cell lysis, electroporation and cell fusion. Finally a number of microfluidic devices for cell analysis are reviewed, including cell transport and cultivation, electrical and mechanical characterization, and finally biochemical sensing. Most of these areas will be treated in depth in the next chapters of this book.