Cell technologies: advances and applications

High-throughput technologies revolutionized the way we study cells. Cell biology has come a long way from classical microscopy methods for cell visualization to single-cell multi-omics techniques, revealing the inside and working principles of cellular machineries. The discovery of the green fluorescent protein and increasingly sophisticated microscopes, the development of in vitro assays, and next-generation sequencing methods are just a few examples of technical advances that have spurred many areas of cell biology.

Such technological advances hold the key to unlock the complexity of cellular functions and shed light on pathways perturbed during pathogenesis, ultimately facilitating the discovery of potential therapeutic interventions. By using and further developing single-cell omics, microfluidics, stem cell technologies, genome editing, and high-throughput screening, we can gain unprecedented insights into cellular behavior, molecular mechanisms, and gene regulatory networks. Progress within cell technologies contributes to the development of innovative interdisciplinary approaches for human medicine and healthcare. Constantly improving disease modeling through advanced cell technologies has the potential to transform the way we approach medical challenges.

To showcase the current technological progress and applications of new cell technologies, BMC Biotechnology presents the collection, ‘Cell technologies: advances and applications’. This collection supports and aligns with the objectives of The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3; ‘Good health and well-being’), which aims to ‘Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages’.

Our collection highlights research covering a broad range of topics including, but not limited to:

• Single-cell technologies
• Microfluidics for cell-related research
• Cell-free systems for understanding cellular functions
• Cellular models to understand development and disease
• Advances in cellular therapeutics
• Innovations in stem cell technologies
• Organoids and organ-on-chips platforms to simulate organ microenvironments
• Genome editing and cellular genetic engineering
• Cell culture technologies
• High-throughput screening methods
• Progress in high-throughput sequencing
• Advances in microscopic techniques
• Applications of cell technologies in industry and clinical research
• Systems and synthetic biology approaches
• Advances in bioprinting for tissue and organ creation

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