Unveiling the Potential of Single-Cell Encapsulation in Biomedical Applications: Current Advances and Future Perspectives

The encapsulation of single cells is gaining attention for its potential in various biomedical applications, such as cell-based therapeutics and diagnostics, due to advantages like compatibility with imaging, better diffusion rates, and efficient drug delivery. Single-cell units circulate more effectively in the vasculature with less risk of entrapment compared to multicell strategies. However, challenges exist in producing single-cell units due to the Poisson distribution of cell dispersion, necessitating the separation of empty and multicell units. While several methods have been developed to address this, they often remain costly or time-consuming. This review explores the benefits and limitations of single-cell encapsulation and provides an overview of current techniques and sorting strategies.