This disclosure provides devices and methods for the isolation of single cells or particles of interest from a solution comprising a plurality of cells or a solution composed of a homogenous population of particles. Specifically, the present disclosure is directed to microfluidic devices and methods for analyzing cells in a sample. More specifically, the present disclosure provides droplet microfluidic devices and methods for using the same to obtain (trap), encapsulate, and retrieve (isolate) single cells or particles from a sample with improved efficiency.