Navigating the future: Microfluidics charting new routes in drug delivery

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Microfluidics offers precise control over fluid volumes and nanoparticle physicochemical characteristics.
• This technology enhances drug pharmacokinetics and is advantageous for delivering poorly soluble medications.
• Conventional drug delivery methods face limitations that microfluidics aims to overcome.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review significant microfluidic techniques for producing nanoscale drug delivery systems.
• To highlight the advantages of microfluidics in developing nanocarriers for drug delivery.
• To provide guidance for the development and optimization of microfluidics-fabricated nanocarriers.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive investigation of microfluidic techniques.
• Analysis of nanoparticle production using microfluidics.
• Evaluation of pharmacokinetic enhancement and targeted delivery capabilities.

Main Results:

• Microfluidics enables precise control over nanoparticle size, morphology, and drug encapsulation.
• Enhanced drug solubility and bioavailability are achieved through microfluidic fabrication.
• Microfluidic platforms can be designed for targeted drug delivery, improving localized bioavailability.

Conclusions:

• Microfluidics represents a paradigm shift in drug delivery, offering superior control and efficiency.
• The technology is particularly beneficial for formulating nanocarriers for challenging drug compounds.
• This review serves as a valuable resource for researchers and developers in microfluidic drug delivery.