Integrated circuit-microfluidic biosensors for blood-based disease diagnostics-A review
Sasi Kiran Boilla1, Gwo-Bin Lee2
1Institute of NanoEngineering and Microsystems, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan.
Analytica Chimica Acta
|June 4, 2026
Summary
Integrated circuit-integrated microfluidic biosensors offer advanced blood diagnostics. Key developments in electronics, fluidics, and processing enable practical point-of-care devices for biomarker detection.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Integrated circuit (IC)-integrated microfluidic biosensors merge electronic sensing with on-chip sample manipulation for blood diagnostics.
- Advances in IC architectures, signal processing, packaging, and microfluidics enable compact, low-power platforms for biomarker detection from small blood volumes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review developments in IC-integrated microfluidic biosensors over the past decade.
- To evaluate the point-of-care (POC) suitability of these devices based on key performance metrics.
Main Methods:
- Summarized advances in IC front-ends (impedance, capacitive, electrochemical).
- Highlighted time- and frequency-encoded conversion techniques (sigma-delta converters, VCOs, capacitance-to-digital/time interfaces).
- Reviewed fluidic strategies (capillary-driven, pressure-driven, hybrid).
Main Results:
- Compared limits of detection (LOD), dynamic range, response time, sample volume, and power consumption.
- Addressed drift-resilient packaging, on-chip calibration, and machine learning for robust field operations.
Conclusions:
- Co-optimization of circuit design, surface chemistry, and microfluidic operation is crucial for translational potential.
- Critical challenges include biocompatibility, manufacturability, analytical sensitivity, and standardization for practical POC devices.
