Simple and rapid imaging and analysis of 2D and 3D cell culture compatible with miniaturized arrays of nanoliter droplets are essential for high-throughput screening and personalized medicine applications. In this study, we have developed a simple one-step, cost-effective and sensitive colorimetric method for the analysis of cell viability in 2D and 3D cell cultures on a nanoliter droplet microarray. The method utilizes a flatbed document scanner that detects a color change in response to cell metabolism in nanoliter droplets with high sensitivity in a single step without the need for expensive specialized equipment. This new nanoliter-based method is faster and more sensitive than equivalent methods using multi-well plate assays. The method detects quantifiable signal from as few as 10 cells and requires only 5 min. This is 2.5 to 10-fold more sensitive and 12 times faster than the same assay in multi-well plates. The method is simple, affordable, fast and sensitive. It can be used for various applications including high-throughput cell-based and biochemical screenings.
Keywords: Colorimetry; Digital imaging; Droplet microarray; Hydrophobicity; Viability assays.
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