Advanced Microfluidics for Biomedical Engineering: From Single Cell Analysis to Organ on a Chip

Dear Colleagues,

Microfluidics has matured from a niche fabrication technique into a cornerstone of modern biomedical engineering. By bridging the gap between single-cell resolution and tissue-level complexity, the field is now producing models that replicate human physiology with remarkable fidelity.

In this Special Issue, “Advanced Microfluidics for Biomedical Engineering: From Single Cell Analysis to Organ on a Chip”, we invite contributions from researchers developing next-generation platforms, with a specific interest in:

• Complex Tumor Microenvironments: Metastasis-on-chip and tumor models that actively incorporate immune cell interactions and stromal complexity.
• Vascularized Organoids: Strategies for perfusing thick tissue constructs and organoids (e.g., neural, hepatic, or cardiac) to prevent necrotic cores and improve maturation.
• Physiological Barriers: High-fidelity models of the Blood–Brain Barrier (BBB), gut-vascular interface, and placental barriers.
• Single-Cell Multi-Omics: High-throughput droplet platforms tailored for sequencing, barcoding, and phenotypic screening at the single-cell level.
• Smart Integrated Systems: Microfluidics featuring in-line biosensors (electrochemical or optical) for real-time monitoring of metabolic activity.
• Biofabrication Convergence: Hybrid approaches combining 3D bioprinting or cell-laden hydrogels directly with microfluidic architectures.
• Personalized Medicine: Patient-derived models designed for specific drug response assays and translational pipelines.

We encourage the submission of original research, reviews, and method papers that not only demonstrate engineering novelty but also provide deep biological insights. We look forward to curating a collection that highlights the definitive role of microfluidics in the future of tissue engineering and drug discovery.

Dr. Xueying Zhao
Guest Editor

Dr. Yang Gu
Guest Editor Assistant
E-mail: yg2471@columbia.edu
Affiliation: 10x Genomics, 6230 Stoneridge Mall Road, Pleasanton, CA 94588, USA
Interests: microfluidics

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