Lab-on-chip microfluidics system for single cell mass measurement: a comprehensive review

Abstract

Single cell mass (SCM) is one of the intrinsic properties of cell and is a vital part of single cell analysis (SCA). To date, a myriad numbers of works has been successfully reported for single cell mass measurement but the reported information are scattered, consequently a comprehensive review becomes mandatory to bring them together. Lab-on-chip microfluidics system integrated with micro-resonator provided an excellent platform to measure single cell mass directly (in presence of cells). On-chip microfluidics system like suspended micro channel resonator (SMR) was reported for non-adherent single yeast cell mass while 'living cantilever arrays' (LCA) was proposed to measure adherent HeLa cell mass. On the other hand, cantilever based resonant mass measurement system has non-uniform mass sensitivity; this issue has been overcome by pedestal mass measurement system (PMMS). PMMS has a unique geometrical structure that provided uniform mass sensitivity to the sensing surface. Moreover, we presented a comprehensive discussion of each of the available methods of SCM elaborating the sensing mechanism, geometry of the sensor and governing equations. It is hoped that, information presented in this comprehensive review paper will be a valuable source for the single cell mass analysers and biological researchers