Biomedical Applications of Microfluidic Devices: A Review

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Microfluidics
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Microfluidic chips are essential for fluid mixing, particle manipulation, and signal detection in biomedical and chemical fields.
• Passive microfluidic devices have limited applications due to their geometry dependence, while active devices offer greater versatility.
• Active microfluidic devices function as sensors and detectors, converting biological and chemical changes into detectable signals for diagnostics and organ modeling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of advances in microfluidic device development.
• To discuss the diverse functions of microfluidic devices, including mixing, sorting, and detection.
• To highlight the applications of microfluidics in disease modeling and point-of-care testing.

Main Methods:

• Review of fabrication techniques such as molding, etching, 3D printing, and nanofabrication.
• Discussion of microfluidic functions including micromixing, cell/substance sorting (filtration, trapping), and flow manipulation.
• Exploration of biosensor applications utilizing enzymes, nanozymes, antibodies, and nucleic acids for assays.

Main Results:

• Microfluidic devices are utilized for diagnostic biomarker detection and organ-on-chip models for various diseases (cancer, neurological, cardiovascular, hepatic, pulmonary).
• Biosensor applications enable point-of-care testing through diverse assay platforms.
• Fabrication techniques are continuously evolving, with a focus on biocompatible materials.

Conclusions:

• Microfluidics technology is a highly versatile tool for disease diagnosis and organ modeling.
• Ongoing developments in fabrication and materials will enhance biomedical applications.
• Future advancements aim to increase versatility, reduce costs, and accelerate diagnosis times in microfluidics.