A Review of Optical Imaging Technologies for Microfluidics
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Updated: Oct 2, 2025

Fluorescence detection methods for microfluidic droplet platforms
Published on: December 10, 2011
Pan Zhou1,2, Haipeng He2, Hanbin Ma3,4
1School of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan 528225, China.
Abstract:
Microfluidics can precisely control and manipulate micro-scale fluids, and are also known as lab-on-a-chip or micro total analysis systems. Microfluidics have huge application potential in biology, chemistry, and medicine, among other fields. Coupled with a suitable detection system, the detection and analysis of small-volume and low-concentration samples can be completed. This paper reviews an optical imaging system combined with microfluidics, including bright-field microscopy, chemiluminescence imaging, spectrum-based microscopy imaging, and fluorescence-based microscopy imaging. At the end of the article, we summarize the advantages and disadvantages of each imaging technology.
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