Methods for analyzing biological samples in a fluidic device comprising generating a polymer matrix from precursors at specific locations comprising biological components

1. A method for processing a biological sample, comprising:

(a) introducing the biological sample into a fluidic device, wherein the biological sample comprises a biological component;

(b) introducing polymer precursors into the fluidic device;

(c) determining a location of the biological component within the fluidic device; and

(d) selectively polymerizing the polymer precursors to generate a polymer matrix from the polymer precursors within the fluidic device, wherein the polymer matrix at least partially encapsulates the biological component.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymer matrix forms a chamber, and wherein an interior of a portion of the chamber comprises the biological component.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymer matrix forms a hydrogel.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluidic device comprises a surface having a capture probe immobilized thereto, and wherein the capture probe couples to the biological component to immobilize the biological component to the surface.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the capture probe comprises one or more functional groups capable of interacting with the biological component.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the one or more functional groups comprise a complementary DNA sequence to target DNA or RNA of the biological component.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining of the location of the biological component within the fluidic device in (c) comprises using a detector to image the fluidic device.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the detector is coupled to an energy source configured to emit energy.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the energy source is a light generating device, and wherein the energy comprises light.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the energy source is in optical communication with the fluidic device.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising generating a virtual mask based on the location of the biological component within the fluidic device determined in (c).

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising projecting the virtual mask using the light emitted from the light generating device.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the light projected from the virtual mask is used to selectively polymerize the polymer precursors to generate the polymer matrix in (d).

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the virtual mask is generated from a spatial light modulator (SLM).

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the SLM is a digital micromirror device (DMD).

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biological component comprises a cell.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising releasing an analyte from the cell.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the analyte comprises messenger ribonucleic acids (RNAs), and wherein the method further comprises capturing the messenger RNAs with one or more capture oligonucleotides located on a portion of the fluidic device encompassed by the polymer matrix.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising degrading the polymer matrix and loading the fluidic device with reverse transcriptase reagents to copy the captured messenger RNAs to produce complementary deoxyribonucleic acids (DNAs).

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising sequencing the complementary DNAs.

21. The method of claim 18 , wherein the one or more capture oligonucleotides each comprise a barcode which indicates a position within the fluidic device.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymer matrix comprises polymer matrix walls having an annular-like cross-section.

23. The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing one or more functional assays on the biological component, wherein the one or more functional assays assess cell viability, cell morphology, cell secretions, cell responses, intercellular interactions, or any combination thereof.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the one or more functional assays are performed using bright-field phase contrast or fluorescent imaging of the biological component.

25. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to (d), selecting the biological component from the biological sample based on one or more optical signals of the biological component.

26. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluidic device comprises a channel with an inlet and an outlet, wherein the channel comprises a first surface and a second surface disposed opposite one another across the channel, wherein the polymer matrix forms a wall extending between the first surface and the second surface, thereby forming a chamber, and wherein the chamber encapsulates the biological component.

27. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymer matrix comprises a hydrogel, and wherein the hydrogel comprises acrylamide and poly (ethylene glycol).

28. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymer matrix comprises a degradable polymer matrix, and wherein the method further comprises degrading the polymer matrix with a degradation agent selected from the group consisting of dithiothreitol (DTT), tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), tetrahydropyran (THP), and sodium periodate (NaIO4).

29. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymer matrix comprises a photo-degradable polymer matrix, and wherein the method further comprises photo-degrading the polymer matrix by selectively projecting a light beam.

30. The method of claim 1 , wherein the introducing in (a) and the introducing in (b) are performed simultaneously.