Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology provides a powerful tool for understanding complex biosystems at the single-cell and single-molecule level. The past decade has been a golden period for the development of single-cell sequencing, with scRNA-seq undergoing a tremendous leap in sensitivity and throughput. The application of droplet- and microwell-based microfluidics in scRNA-seq has contributed greatly to improving sequencing throughput. This review introduces the history of development and important technical factors of scRNA-seq. We mainly focus on the role of microfluidics in facilitating the development of scRNA-seq technology. To end, we discuss the future directions for scRNA-seq.
Keywords: droplet; microfluidics; microwell; scRNA-seq.