Monitoring of cells

1 . A method for monitoring cells in a microfluidic device, wherein the device includes a chamber comprising a sensor, and the monitoring is under conditions such that attachment of cells to the surface of the chamber is inhibited.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the chamber surface comprises a gas-permeable material.

3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the gas is selected from the group consisting of CO 2 , NH 3 , and O 2 .

4 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the material is a fluropolymer.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the chamber surface comprises a hydrophilic material.

6 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein the hydrophilic material is polyvinyl alcohol.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the chamber is formed in an epoxy resin coated on a plastics substrate.

8 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the plastics substrate is polycarbonate.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the chamber comprises a plurality of sensors.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is sensitive to oxygen, carbon dioxide, ammonium ion or pH.

11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is an optical sensor.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the sensor is a holographic sensor.

13 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is an electrochemical or acoustic sensor.

14 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is sensitive to a reactant or product of fermentation.

15 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the volume of the chamber is from 50 nL to 10 μL.

16 . The method according to claim 1 , which further comprises introducing growth medium into the chamber, wherein the sensor is sensitive to a reactant or product of cell growth.

17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the growth medium comprises a non-metabolisable mannose analogue.

18 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the analogue is methyl α-D-mannopyranoside.

19 . The method according to claim 1 , which further comprises introducing a component of or derived from the cells into a second microfluidic chamber comprising a sensor and in connection with the first chamber detecting said component.

20 . The method according to claim 19 , wherein the component is a product of cell growth.

21 . The method according to claim 19 , wherein the component is an expressed protein or enzyme.

22 . The method according to claim 19 , wherein the sensor of the second chamber is as defined in any of claims 10 - 15 .

23 . A microfluidic device which comprises a chamber including a sensor and inlets for a sample and for a growth medium, wherein the chamber surface is such that, in use, attachment of cells thereto is inhibited.

24 . The device according to claim 23 , wherein the chamber surface comprises a gas-permeable material.

25 . The device according to claim 23 , which comprises a plurality of the chambers.

26 . The device according to claim 25 , wherein the chambers are in the form of an array.

27 . The device according to claim 25 , wherein a pair of chambers is connected by a channel.

28 . The device, according to claim 23 , wherein the material is a fluropolymer.

29 . The device, according to claim 23 , wherein the chamber surface comprises a hydrophilic material.

30 . The device, according to claim 23 , wherein the chamber is formed in an epoxy resin coated on a plastic substrate.

31 . The device, according to claim 23 , wherein the sensor is sensitive to oxygen, carbon dioxide, ammonium ion or pH.

32 . The device, according to claim 23 , wherein the sensor is an optical sensor.

33 . The device, according to claim 23 , wherein the sensor is a holographic sensor.

34 . The device, according to claim 23 , wherein the sensor is an electrochemical or acoustic sensor.

35 . The device, according to claim 23 , wherein the sensor is sensitive to a reactant or product of fermentation.