Single-cell patterning: a new frontier in bioengineering

• Published in: Materials today chemistry 2022-12, Vol.26, p.101021, Article 101021
• Main Authors: Gayathri, R., Kar, S., Nagai, M., Tseng, F.-G., Mahapatra, P.S., Santra, T.S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cell adhesion; Cell manipulation; Micro/nano patterning; Micro/nanofluidics; Surface modification
• ISSN: 2468-5194; 2468-5194
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mtchem.2022.101021

Single-cell patterning technologies are rapidly evolving, where single cells are positioned in spatially distinct areas, thus providing a platform for several biological and biomedical, therapeutics, and diagnostics applications. By considering the cellular heterogeneity and providing more statistical power, single-cell patterning outperforms precise cellular analysis than conventional bulk patterning, where average data can be acquired with millions of cells together. A crucial step in cell patterning is to regulate cell adhesion on a substrate by adapting several physical and biochemical strategies for substrate modification and patterning. In this article, we briefly discuss different biochemical as well as physical approaches for the surface modification and cellular adhesion. Moreover, we also emphasize in-depth single-cell patterning by using different physiochemical and physical approaches and their biological and biomedical applications. Finally, single-cell printing, its advantages, limitations, and future challenges are also elaborated. [Display omitted] •Single-cell patterning and their analysis.•Fundamental of single-cell patterning, to regulate cell adhesion on a substrate.•Discussion on existing single-cell patterning techniques: physical and physicochemical.•Outlining existing limitations, potentiality, and future challenges.•Different biological and biomedical applications of single-cell patterning.