Developing a tool for extracting molecules from living cells quickly

Droplet-based Spatially Encoded Live Cell Digital Extraction

['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · NIH-10687620

This study is working on a new tool that can quickly and gently take tiny samples from living cells to help scientists learn more about how individual cells behave and respond over time, which is important for understanding various health conditions.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_OTHER']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA (nih funded)
Locations1 site (PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-10687620 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

This research focuses on creating a high-throughput tool that can continuously extract intracellular molecules from individual living cells at a rate of over 1000 cells per second. By utilizing advanced nanotechnology methods, the project aims to monitor cellular changes and responses over time while keeping the cells alive and minimizing any disturbance. This approach will help in understanding the unique behaviors and characteristics of individual cells, which is crucial for studying complex biological processes and identifying rare cell populations.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with conditions that exhibit cellular heterogeneity, such as cancer or autoimmune diseases.

Not a fit: Patients with stable, well-characterized conditions that do not involve significant cellular variability may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies by enabling early detection of subtle molecular changes in various diseases.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research utilizing nanotechnology for single-cell analysis has shown promising results, indicating that this approach has potential for success.

Where this research is happening

PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.