Cell biology at the interface of nanobiosensors and microfluidics

It is at the nanometer scale where biology, chemistry, and material science converge. With recent progresses in nanotechnology, research in cell biology has gained enormous interest from a growing multidisciplinary community of scientists in academia and industry. Many efforts have been made to discover cures for diseases through advancements in nanobiosensors and microfluidics. In this chapter, we give a general introduction to nanobiosensors and microfluidics technology, present key developments in the field, and illustrate the breadth of microfluidics-based sensing strategies available for cell biology. We also provide protocols for fabricating localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR)-based nanobiosensors, and for integration of LSPR with a microfluidic device. Finally, we highlight applications and challenges associated with the use of nanobiosensing and microfluidics technology. This chapter should provide a solid platform for cell biologists to develop simple microfluidic LSPR chips for routine cell-based assays.