Recent advances in analytical techniques for single-cell metabolomics

The cell is the fundamental unit of structure and function of all living organisms and plays critical roles in various biological processes. The biological research at the cellular level, especially at the single-cell level, is a unique way for discovering the secret of life. Single cell metabolomics has attracted increasing attention in recent years since cell metabolism exists and plays important roles in almost all biological processes. This review introduced several methods that have been applied to the single-cell level research, including fluorescence, electrochemistry, chromatography and mass spectrometry. The recently developed single-cell mass spectrometry technique provides accurate metabolic information on the cell and combines cell metabolism with various biological processes. Single-cell mass spectrometry technology has plenty of advantages such as directness,rapidity, high efficiency and in situ sampling and analysis, promising broad applications of this technology in biological research in the future.