A split-sample, virtual fluidic channel-based microfluidic platform for characterizing liquid viscosity and cellular stiffness

Cellular mechanical properties and liquid viscosity are critical biophysical indicators for assessing physiological status and diagnosing diseases. For the characterization of cellular mechanics, microfluidics-based high-throughput cell deformation assays have garnered significant attention owing to their high throughput and minimal cell damage. However, such techniques typically require cells to be suspended in a medium with known viscosity, which precludes the measurement of the native sample’s own viscosity—a particular limitation for precious clinical specimens. Here, we present a microfluidic chip based on virtual fluidic channels that employs a “split-sample, dual-assay” strategy, enabling the simultaneous acquisition of two key biophysical parameters (liquid viscosity and cellular mechanical properties) from a single sample source with minimal volume consumption.