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Microfluidic High-Throughput Platforms for Discovery of Novel Materials
Peipei Zhou1,2, Jinxu He1, Lu Huang1
1Key Laboratory of Sensing Technology and Biomedical Instruments of Guangdong Province, School of Biomedical Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)
|December 18, 2020
Summary
Microfluidic platforms accelerate materials discovery through high-throughput screening. These systems, using microarrays and microdroplets, enhance synthesis and characterization, reducing reagent use and increasing efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- High-throughput screening (HTS) is crucial for rapid materials discovery and development.
- Traditional HTS methods often involve robotic dispensers and microplates, which can be reagent-intensive.
- Microfluidic platforms offer a promising alternative for accelerating materials research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review advances in microfluidic high-throughput screening platforms.
- To detail the application of these platforms in screening diverse materials.
- To discuss current challenges and future opportunities in microfluidic materials screening.
Main Methods:
- Focus on two primary microfluidic HTS approaches: microarrays and microdroplets.
- Describe the parallel synthesis and characterization capabilities of these platforms.
- Review the application of microfluidics for inorganic metals, metal alloys, and organic polymers.
Main Results:
- Microfluidic platforms significantly increase screening throughput compared to traditional methods.
- These platforms drastically reduce reagent consumption by several orders of magnitude.
- Demonstrated success in screening various material classes, including metals, alloys, and polymers.
Conclusions:
- Microfluidic HTS platforms are powerful tools for accelerating materials discovery.
- The technology offers substantial advantages in efficiency and resource conservation.
- Further research and development hold significant promise for advancing materials science.
