Highly efficient single cell capturing in microwell array using hydrodynamic guiding structures

This paper presents a microfluidic chip array for high-throughput single cell assay with an efficient cell capture rate. The single cell capture structure utilizes hydrodynamic resistance difference in flow paths and its feasibility was tested. More than 40% of all the injected microbeads were captured in the designated capture sites. The capture structure was expanded in an array of microwells formed at the intersection of rows and columns of orthogonal microchannels. By selectively operating integrated pneumatic valves, we successfully demonstrated cell seeding, reagents injection and cell isolation without cross-contamination.