Microfluidic device

Microfluidic device is a technology that controls and manipulates fluids that are geometrically constrained to a small, typically sub-millimeter, scale. It is a multidisciplinary field intersecting engineering, physics, chemistry, biochemistry, nanotechnology, and biotechnology, with practical applications to the design of systems in which low volumes of fluids are processed to achieve multiplexing, automation, and high-throughput screening.

History

The concept of microfluidic devices was first proposed in the early 20th century. However, it was not until the 1980s that the technology began to be developed in earnest, with the advent of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) and the miniaturization of chemical systems.

Design and Fabrication

Microfluidic devices are typically designed using computer-aided design (CAD) software, and fabricated using microfabrication techniques such as photolithography, etching, and bonding. The materials used in the fabrication of microfluidic devices include glass, silicon, and polymers such as PDMS.

Applications

Microfluidic devices have a wide range of applications, including DNA microarrays, lab-on-a-chip technology, micropropulsion, and microthermal technologies. In the field of medicine, microfluidic devices are used in the development of point-of-care diagnostic devices, drug delivery systems, and in the study of cell biology at the single-cell level.

See Also

• Lab-on-a-chip
• Microfabrication
• Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems
• Point-of-care testing

References

Microfluidic device Resources
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