Single-cell screening and minimally invasive off-chip recovery

EPFL scientists have developed an innovative microfluidic device for accurate screening of single cells. Cells are spatially arrayed in microfluidic traps and can be selectively retrieved through the application of electrical fields generated by electrodes embedded within the microfluidic channel. The team, led by Prof. Bart Deplancke and Prof. Carlotta Guiducci, verified through transcriptional analysis the minimal impact of the platform on cells. This lab-on-a-chip platform appears as a promising tool for the development of personalized immunotherapies such as adoptive cell transfer for cancer patients.