Abstract: Microfluidic devices for dissociating tissue, culturing, separating, manipulating, and assaying cells and methods for manufacturing and using the devices are disclosed. Individual modules for tissue dissociation, cell, protein and particle separation, cell adhesion to functionalized, permissive micro- and nano-substrates, cell culturing, cell manipulation, cell and extracellular component assaying via metabolic and therapeutic compounds are described. Specialized micro- and nano-substrates and their methods of fabrication are also described. An integrated device is also disclosed. The devices and methods can be used for diagnostic applications, monitoring of disease progression, analysis of disease recurrence, compound discovery, compound validation, drug efficacy screening, and cell-based assays.