title: Opportunities and limits of cell-based assay miniaturization in drug discovery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Miniaturization is a significant driver for many life-science applications and a key technology for personalized medicine. Innovations in microfluidics will make ex vivo testing in in vivo-like environment possible, thus, allowing novel pathways for drug discovery.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review covers the application of miniaturization technologies, namely microfluidics for cell-based assay development. We highlight the use of microfluidics in sample preparation and clinical trials, review the progress towards in vivo-like test environments and point out practical challenges in the work with microfluidic systems.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The reader will gain an overview of the different application areas of miniaturized systems for cell-based assay-methods and the technologies involved in how they can be applied in the drug discovery process is given. Examples of clinical applications are pointed out.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Miniaturization is a key technology driver for methodological progress in drug discovery. The enabling nature of this technology is reflected in the multitude of applications covering all aspects of the drug discovery process.
authors: Microfluidic ChipShop, Carl-Zeiss-Promenade 10, 07745 Jena, Germany  hb@microfluidic-chipshop.com.
authors: Cornelia
authors: C
authors: Carstens
authors: Rudi
authors: R
authors: Elbracht
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Gärtner
authors: Holger
authors: H
authors: Becker