Harnessing microfluidics for microbiology: from bacteria-host interactions to emerging cancer therapies.

Microfluidic and organ-on-chip technologies enable detailed study of bacteria-host interactions and tumor microenvironments, revealing new insights into microbiology and cancer therapy.

• Why it matters: Understanding bacteria's role within host tissues, especially in tumors, is crucial for developing targeted treatments, but current methods lack the precision to replicate complex microenvironments.
• What they did: The review highlights microfluidic applications from single-cell analysis to organ-on-chip models, emphasizing their ability to mimic physiologically relevant conditions and study bacterial behaviors in cancer tissues.
• The result: Advancing microfluidic approaches, particularly tumor-on-chip systems, can deepen mechanistic understanding of intratumoral bacteria and support the development of innovative therapeutic strategies.