Single cell multimodal analysis is at the frontier of single cell research: it defines the roles and functions of distinct cell types through simultaneous analysis to provide unprecedented insight into cellular processes. Current single cell approaches are rapidly moving toward multimodal characterizations. It replaces one-dimensional single cell analysis, for example by allowing for simultaneous measurement of transcription and post-transcriptional regulation, epigenetic modifications and/or surface protein expression. By providing deeper insights into single cell processes, multimodal single cell analyses paves the way to new understandings in various cellular processes such as cell fate decisions, physiological heterogeneity or genotype–phenotype linkages. At the forefront of this, microfluidics is key for high-throughput single cell analysis. Here, we present an overview of the recent multimodal microfluidic platforms having a potential in biomedical research, with a specific focus on their potential clinical applications.

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单细胞分析的前沿：多模式技术及其临床前景

单细胞多模式分析处于单细胞研究的前沿：它通过同时分析定义不同细胞类型的作用和功能，以提供对细胞过程的前所未有的洞察力。当前的单细胞方法正在迅速转向多模式表征。它取代了一维单细胞分析，例如通过允许同时测量转录和转录后调控、表观遗传修饰和/或表面蛋白表达。通过对单细胞过程提供更深入的了解，多模式单细胞分析为对各种细胞过程的新理解铺平了道路，例如细胞命运决定、生理异质性或基因型-表型联系。在这方面，微流体是高通量单细胞分析的关键。