BACKGROUND: Cells are the basic units of all life activities. In order to grasp the law of life process, it is essential to explore intercellular interactions and cell behaviors. Most current biological assays in large cell populations ignore the effects of cell heterogeneity and lose important temporal data in the process of averaging cellular responses. High-throughput single-cell capture and arrangement are of great significance to the research on cell biology. However, to date, there has no systematic study and description of the methods for cell capturing and alignment in vitro . OBJECTIVE: To summarize the methods of microfluidics technology, surface topographical technology and various traps based on mechanics, magnetics, and electrophoretic sorting to spatially collect single cells so as to discuss the feasibility and the latest progress of cell shape control and cell alignment. METHODS: The authors performed a data retrieval of PubMed and Bailianyun databases to search the articles (1995-2017) addressing the single cell capture and alignment in vitro and reviewed the literatures systematically. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A total 241 articles were retrieved, and 35 articles were finally involved in the analysis according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. After summarizing and analyzing, the results indicated that microfluidics, micro-contact printing, micro-well arrays, micro-pore membrane, electrical stimulation and magnetic deflection are commonly used in cell capture and functional assay. With the development of micro-scale technologies and in-depth research of cell behavior, microfluidic technology and micro-contact printing technology have become a hot topic of research with certain improvement in the capture efficiency. In addition, some new materials are gradually developed and applied. Microfluidic technology has a leading advantage in cell capture rate, while the improved micro-contact printing technology mostly concerns subsequent cell spreading and alignment. Under the proper culture environment, precise cell capture and alignment are essential to guide cell spreading, fusion, and differentiation.

Objective To research the prohibitin2 (PHB2) expression and cellular localization in the rat brain cortex after traumatic brain injury (TBI),and explore its relationship with astrocyte proliferation and neuron apoptosis.Methods TBI rat models were established by knife injurying the brain.Western blotting was used to detect the PHB2 expression variation trend in the brain cortex.Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the distribution of PHB2 in damaged cerebral cortex,and immunofluorescence was applied to research the PHB2 expression changes and cellular localization in the rat brain cortex after TBI,and explore its relationship with astrocyte proliferation and neuron apoptosis.Results (1) The TBI models were established successfully;12 h after TBI,the PHB2 expression started to increase obviously,and PHB2 expression reached to its peak level 5 d after TBI.(2)The PHB2 expression in the cortex of TBI rats was significantly increased as compared with that in the sham-operated group,control group and contralateral side of TBI rats.(3) PHB2 mainly located at the astrocytes and neurons of the cerebral cortex after TBI.(4) Co-localization was noted in astrocytes and cell proliferation marker PCNA,and in PHB2 and PCNA,which indicated that proliferation of astrocytes existed and PHB2 involved in the proliferation.(5) Co-localization was noted in astrocytes and cell apoptosis marker A-caspase-3,and in PHB2 and A-caspase-3,which indicated that TBI induced cell apoptosis,and PHB2 involved in the apoptosis.Conclusion PHB2 has a high expression in the cerebral cortex of rats after TBI,and these changes are related to astrocyte proliferation and neuronal apoptosis.