Microfluidics for Biotechnology: Bridging Gaps to Foster Microfluidic Applications

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Microfluidics
• Lab-on-a-chip technology

Background:

• Microfluidics and lab-on-a-chip (LOC) systems present transformative potential for biotechnology, surpassing traditional methods.
• Despite increasing applications, routine adoption in academic and industrial biotech labs remains limited.
• A perceived lack of "out-of-the-box" applications has historically hindered microfluidic integration in biotech research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the capabilities of microfluidics and align them with the needs of biotechnologists.
• To analyze the current state of microfluidics in four key emerging biotechnology fields.
• To identify barriers hindering the widespread adoption of microfluidics in biotechnology.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and analysis of microfluidic applications in biotechnology.
• Exemplary case studies in phenotypic cell screening, microbial heterogeneity analysis, organ-on-a-chip, and synthetic co-cultures.
• Identification and discussion of gaps impeding microfluidic integration.

Main Results:

• Microfluidics offers significant advantages for specific biotechnological applications.
• Six major gaps were identified: interdisciplinary communication, knowledge exchange, motivation, methodological compatibility, technological readiness, and commercialization.
• Analysis of four emerging fields highlights both potential and challenges for microfluidic implementation.

Conclusions:

• Connecting microfluidics and biotechnology is achievable by addressing identified gaps.
• Seven actionable suggestions are proposed to facilitate the integration of microfluidic systems.
• The study provides a foundation for the routine incorporation of microfluidics into biotechnology research workflows.