Microfluidic Technology

Biological system analysis and biomolecular detection are the two fundamental components of biomedical analysis, of which bioanalysis is an essential component. Recently, scientists have concentrated on three areas: Point-of-care (POC) testing requires the integration and miniaturization of analytical devices. Critical information regarding the heterogeneity of a particular population can be obtained by evaluating at the single-cell or single-molecule level. High-throughput screening is necessary for large-scale analysis. Microfluidic techniques, which transform sampling, sample separation, mixing, chemical reaction, and detection, are being developed quickly to address these issues.

Another name for microfluidics is “laboratory on a chip” (LOC). Since its inception, microfluidic technologies have significantly advanced the disciplines of chemical synthesis, biofabrication, drug screening, and organ/tissue modeling, as well as experimental biology and biomedical research. Crucially, high sensitivity, mobility, and specificity can be achieved by integrating microfluidics with POC testing. Microfluidic devices have been used more and more in the bioanalytical area recently. Examples of its applications include finding and screening new chemical entities, accurately adjusting the size and pattern of nanoparticles for drug delivery, and accomplishing the “sample-in/result-out” analysis paradigm.

A microfluidic chip typically consists of separate intake, channel mixer, and signal detection chambers. Individual microfluidic components can now be produced more easily because to advancements in micro- and nanofabrication techniques. These components will subsequently be integrated to create a working chip. Microfluidic chips can currently be made from a variety of materials, including organic (like polydimethylsiloxane, or PDMS), inorganic (like silica and glass), and composite (like polystyrene, or PS, polymethyl methacrylate, or PMMA), and paper materials.

For more: Biochips

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