Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of droplet microfluidics, particularly relates to a droplet sorting chip. The droplet sorting chip disclosed herein is provided with a cavity area, which can accommodate impurities such as fibers entering the droplet sorting chip, can effectively prevent clogging and collision and fusion of droplets caused by impurities, and ensure smooth droplet sorting.

Abstract: The present invention provides a droplet generator. The droplet generator includes a large-corner continuous U-shaped flow channel on the encoded microsphere flow channel. Controlling the turning radius of the continuous U-shaped flow channel prevents the blockage resulted from accumulation of microfibers in the encoded microsphere suspension at the turn of the continuous U-shaped flow channel. A buffer tank is arranged at the encoded microsphere flow channel, which is used for the pre-arrangement of the encoded microspheres, to increase the controllability of the flow rate of the encoded microspheres. The buffer tank is provided in the oil-phase flow channel to prevent the oil phase from infiltrating into the aqueous phase due to excessive flow rate, and increase the controllability of the oil phase flow rate. The droplet generator has simple structure, low cost, high-throughput, and high-stability, and may be used to prepare single-cell single-encoded microsphere droplets.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and devices for monitoring events occurred in a single cell or examining cell characteristics in a single cell in a massive parallel and real-time manner. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a single-cell culturing system for culturing and monitoring a large number of cells independently at single-cell level. In one embodiment, the present invention provides methods and devices for studying or monitoring single-cell response to an external stimulus in a massive parallel and real-time manner. In one embodiment, the present invention provides methods and devices for studying or monitoring drug response at single-cell level in a massive parallel and real-time manner.

Abstract: The present invention provides a microfluidic circuit for generating uniform droplets despite fluctuations in pressure, and manufacturing methods and uses thereof. Said circuit comprises microfluidic channels for carrying a continuous phase and a dispersed phase. In one embodiment, the ratio of the flow resistance of the dispersed phase to that of the continuous phase is equal to the ratio of the flow rate of the continuous phase to that of the dispersed phase. In one embodiment, the present microfluidic circuit comprises two features to achieve the desired ratio of flow resistance and flow rate of the dispersed phase and continuous phase: (a) using a single pressure source which applies identical pressure to the inlets of the upstream channels carrying the two phases, and (b) the flow resistance of the dispersed phase and continuous phase is much higher than the flow resistance of the downstream channel so that the flow resistance of the downstream channel become negligible.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and devices for detecting and quantifying multiple biomolecules at single-molecule level using an integrated droplet microfluidic system. In one embodiment, the present invention provides real-time and digital measurement of multiple biomolecules in a sample, thereby quantifying multiple biomolecules in an absolute and simultaneous manner. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a diagnostic method for a disease, comprising real-time and digital measurement of multiple biomolecules in a sample using the method or device described herein.