Systems and methods are described herein that create discrete volumes associated with solid-phase particles (e.g., drop-carrier particles) suspended in an immiscible phase (e.g., dropicles). One embodiment of the system includes a plurality of hydrogel-based drop-carrier particles containing a microscale voids or cavities that hold an aqueous phase droplet of fluid within each drop-carrier particle. The plurality of hydrogel drop-carrier particles associated with aqueous drops are suspended as individual elements in an immiscible oil phase. The microscale hydrogel drop-carrier particles containing the voids or cavities may be manufactured using microfluidic droplet generators. The dropicles may be used to analyze single-entities (e.g., single-molecules and single-cells) and analytes.