Lab-on-chip device for single cell trapping and analysis

Traditional cell assay gives us an average result of multiple cells and it is assumed that the resultant is the outcome of all cells in population. However, single cell studies have revealed that individual cells of same type may differ dramatically and these differences may have important role to play in cells functionality. Such information can be obscured in only studying cell population experimental approach. To uncover biological principles and ultimately to improve the detection and treatment of disease, new approaches are highly required to single cell analysis. We propose to fabricate a lab on chip device to study high throughput single cell nanotoxicity analysis. The chip incorporates independently addressable active microwell electrodes for cell manipulation and analysis. We employed positive-dielectrophoresis approach to quickly and efficiently capture single cells in each wells with having control over individual microwells. We examined change in impedance properties to verify cell capture in microwell and its health and present a novel model of single cell assay for nanotoxicity, and drug testing.