Emerging Trends in Integrated Digital Microfluidic Platforms for Next-Generation Immunoassays

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry
• Immunology

Background:

• Digital microfluidics (DMF) enables precise automated manipulation of microscale liquids and complex multistep processes.
• DMF systems offer significant advantages including automation, speed, cost-effectiveness, and minimal sample volume requirements, making them ideal for immunoassays.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of diverse digital microfluidics manipulation platforms.
• To review the applications of DMF in immunological analysis and immunoassay techniques.
• To discuss challenges and future perspectives in the integration of DMF with immunoassays.

Main Methods:

• Introduction to droplet-driven DMF platforms utilizing electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD), magnetic manipulation, and surface acoustic wave (SAW) technologies.
• Description of DMF preparation, including material selection, fabrication techniques, and droplet generation.
• Review of advancements in integrating DMF with various immunoassay techniques (colorimetric, chemiluminescence, electrosensory).

Main Results:

• Diverse DMF platforms and their preparation methods are detailed.
• Significant advancements in integrating DMF with colorimetric, chemiluminescence, and electrosensory immunoassays are presented.
• The review highlights the successful application of DMF in enhancing immunological analysis.

Conclusions:

• Digital microfluidics platforms are highly suitable for immunological analysis due to their inherent benefits.
• The integration of DMF with various immunoassay techniques has shown considerable progress.
• Further research into challenges and future perspectives will drive innovation in DMF-based immunoassays.