onecellthick

Onecellthick is a term used primarily to describe a single-layer cellular arrangement, typically a monolayer of epithelial or endothelial cells. In biology and tissue engineering, monolayer culture refers to cells grown on a flat substrate that form a continuous sheet about one cell thick, providing a model for barrier function and transport studies.

Origin and scope: The term is a compound of "one cell thick" and is usually used descriptively rather than as a formal designation. It is encountered in academic writing when contrasting monolayers to multilayer tissues and in discussions of thin membranes and barrier models.

Applications: In cell culture, one-cell-thick monolayers are used to measure transepithelial electrical resistance and permeability. In materials science, ultra-thin membranes and single-layer coatings sometimes borrow the phrase to convey extreme thinness and minimal material usage.

In culture and art contexts, onecellthick has appeared as a metaphor for fragility and clarity. It also shows up as a user handle or project name in online communities, but there is no single authoritative entity associated with the term.