title: Lab-on-a-chip technologies for stem cell analysis.
abstract: The combination of microfabrication-based technologies with cell biology has laid the foundation for the development of advanced in vitro diagnostic systems capable of analyzing cell cultures under physiologically relevant conditions. In the present review, we address recent lab-on-a-chip developments for stem cell analysis. We highlight in particular the tangible advantages of microfluidic devices to overcome most of the challenges associated with stem cell identification, expansion and differentiation, with the greatest advantage being that lab-on-a-chip technology allows for the precise regulation of culturing conditions, while simultaneously monitoring relevant parameters using embedded sensory systems. State-of-the-art lab-on-a-chip platforms for in vitro assessment of stem cell cultures are presented and their potential future applications discussed.
authors.affiliation: BioSensor Technologies, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: peter.ertl@ait.ac.at.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ertl
authors.affiliation: BioSensor Technologies, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Drago
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sticker
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Verena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Charwat
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kasper
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Aging, University Innsbruck, Tirol, Austria.
authors.forename: Günter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lepperdinger
mesh_terms: D003584:Cytological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D056656:Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: biosensors; lab-on-a-chip; microfluidics; stem cells