Abstract: A method of detecting the interactions between a biological entity and a molecule, the method comprising providing an array of first microdroplets into a microfluidic chip; wherein each microdroplet contains at least one bead and each bead having a bound photocleavable molecule; providing an array of second microdroplets into the microfluidic chip; wherein each microdroplet contains at least one biological entity; holding the entire first and second arrays of microdroplets; illuminating at least a subset of the first microdroplets containing at least one bead with an illumination source configured to photo-cleave the molecule; subsequently merging at least one subset of the first array of microdroplets with at least one subset of the second microdroplets to form an array of merged microdroplets; and detecting a change in an optical signal from the merged microdroplets using an optical system to indicate the interactions between the biological entity and the molecule.

Abstract: A method for selecting cells and/or part(s) of a cell(s) based on at least one characteristic in an EWOD or oEWOD device is provided. The method comprising: i. providing a test panel of microdroplets, comprising at least a medium or a medium and at least one cell; ii. providing at least one reporter panel of microdroplets, containing one or more reporter entities; iii. merging microdroplets of the test panel with microdroplets of the at least one reporter panel to form a panel of merged assay microdroplets; and iv. monitoring the panel of assay microdroplets using a detection system capable of detecting a change in said reporter entity based upon the presence of at least one characteristic, and v.