Particle squeezing in narrow confinements

Many lab-on-a-chip applications require processing of droplets, cells, and particles using narrow confinements. The physics governing the process of a particle squeezing through narrow confinement is complex. Various models and applications have been developed in this area in recent years. In the present paper, we review the physics, modeling approaches, and designs of narrow confinements for the control of deformable droplets, cells, and particles. This review highlights the interdisciplinary nature of the problem, since the experimental, analytical, and numerical methods used in studies of particle squeezing through narrow confinements come from various fields of science and technology.