Spores-on-a-Chip: a new sample-loading strategy for multiplexed single-cell monitoring of spore germination within a microfluidic platform

We demonstrate a new sample-loading strategy ("spot-loading") for Spores-on-a-Chip microfluidic sensors that enables multiplexed experimentation. The previous limitation of one biological sample per device is overcome through controlled sample loading at an intermediate step of the chip fabrication process. As a proof-of-concept, we use dual spore chips to compare the germination behaviours of two spore strains in two distinct microenvironments.