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Microfluidic Single-Cell Functional Proteomics

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Microfluidic Methods for Molecular Biology

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Abstract

We review an emerging microfluidic single-cell functional proteomics field and the associated technologies. Functional proteins, such as secreted signaling proteins from immune cells and phosphoproteins in cancer cells, refer to those that play important roles in promoting live cells’ physiological activities. Assay of single-cell functional proteins can be carried out by either cytometry or newly developed microfluidic tools, each of which possesses its own advantages and disadvantages. The use of microfluidic chips brings benefits of high multiplexity, low cost, and high flexibility to integrate various cell manipulation strategies into one platform, while such platforms are normally less developed and automated. We focus the discussion specifically on single-cell barcode technology, which has been more mature than others, and is able to quantitate up to 42 different functional proteins from single cells. This platform has also been uniquely extended to the study of cell–cell interactions. Quantitative analysis of the single-cell functional proteins offers new perspectives of biological systems and provides a conduit between biology and the physicochemical laws. And finally we discuss the challenges and future of the microfluidic single-cell functional proteomics field.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Multiplex Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, CH 120, Albany, NY, 12222, USA

    Shay Mailloux Ph.D. & Lisa Ramirez B.S.

  2. Cancer Research Center, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, 12144, USA

    Jun Wang Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Shay Mailloux Ph.D.
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  2. Lisa Ramirez B.S.
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  3. Jun Wang Ph.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jun Wang Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA

    Chang Lu

  2. Dpt of Biomedical Engg. & Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA

    Scott S. Verbridge

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Mailloux, S., Ramirez, L., Wang, J. (2016). Microfluidic Single-Cell Functional Proteomics. In: Lu, C., Verbridge, S. (eds) Microfluidic Methods for Molecular Biology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30019-1_7

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