Emerging open microfluidics is a user-friendly, multifunctional and precise tool for cell manipulations. Basic principles, important applications, challenges and developing trends of the methodology are introduced in detail in this tutorial review.

Functional materials from the microfluidic-based droplet community are emerging as enabling tools for various applications in tissue engineering and cell biology. The innovative micro- and nano-scale materials with diverse sizes, shapes and components can be fabricated without the use of complicated devices, allowing unprecedented control over the cells that interact with them. Here, we review the current development of microfluidic-based droplet techniques for creation of functional materials (i.e., liquid droplet, microcapsule, and microparticle). We also describe their various applications for manipulating cell fate and function.