Digital microfluidic system for single-cell isolation and characterization of analytes

A digital fluidics system, comprising:

• (a) a droplet actuator including a droplet operations gap, the droplet actuator including droplet operations electrodes arranged proximate to the droplet operations gap;
• (b) a microwell device including:
• (1) a first substrate comprising a plurality of microwells formed in the first substrate, the plurality of microwells opening onto a droplet operations surface of the microwell device, the microwell device coupled to the droplet actuator and positioned such that the microwells face the droplet operations gap;
• and
• (2) a second substrate comprising a plurality of cell traps formed on the second substrate, the plurality of cell traps extending into the droplet operations gap and wherein each cell trap of the plurality of cell traps is located above each microwell of the plurality of microwells such that each cell trap of the plurality of cell traps are configured such that cells of interest are trapped by the plurality of cell traps and are deposited into the plurality of microwells;
• (c) a controller configured to execute program instructions to:
• (1) direct the droplet actuator to transport a sample droplet to a microwell device, the sample droplet including cells of interest;
• (2) introduce capture beads to the microwells, wherein capture elements are immobilized on the capture beads;
• and
• (3) direct the droplet actuator to transport a cell lysis reagent droplet to the microwell device, wherein portions of the lysis reagent droplet enter the microwells and, during an incubation period, cause the cells of interest to release analyte(s) that is/are captured by the capture elements on the capture beads.