Abstract
This initial chapter provides a brief description of cellular biology, cell culture principles, and cell analysis tools, which play a pivotal role in the creation of microfluidic devices for cellular applications. After introducing the main characteristics of a eukaryotic cell an overview of the organization of the subcellular organelles is given. The subdivision of cells into discrete compartments creates microenvironments with optimal conditions for the respective metabolic reactions. Produced metabolites can be used as biomarkers which grant information about the (patho-)physiological state of the examined organism. Proper handling of cells in an aseptic environment is crucial in order to avoid contamination and introduction of experimental biases. In the final part of the chapter a succinct description of the several techniques available to study a wide variety of cell types is given, including fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, and UV/Vis absorption among others.
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