Microfluidics definitions

This short review aims to describe microfluidics definition from the concept, the advantages and the various fields of application.

Microfluidics took off in the 1990’s thanks to the Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMs) technology.

Over the past 20 years, microfluidics offered a tremendous technological breakthrough for the scientific community as a means to miniaturize the work of a whole lab onto a microfluidic chip less than a few inches (cm) big!

What is it?

Microfluidics definition: microfluidics is the study and manipulation of fluid flow at the sub millimeter scale (Whitesides, 2006).

Other than this, microfluidics really is all around us, from our tiniest blood capillaries to the networks of sap in plants. More technological daily applications also include some medical tests and even inkjet printing.
Some thought to harvest the mechanics and possibilities offered by microfluidics, with the right tools to control pressure and flow inside microfluidics channels.

Who uses it?

As a versatile science and technology, microfluidics is used by researchers & industrials, who can both benefit from its many fields of application. One microfluidics definition is that it can be used to spearhead breakthroughs and lead innovative research, as well as be an essential brick in an industrial production process where there is a need to scale up while cutting down on reagent cost.

Biology

• Dynamic microfluidic cell culture
• Organ-on-chip
• Soil-on-chip
• Single cell encapsulation
• Biocompatible scaffold generation
• Point of care
• Synthetic Biology

Chemistry

• Flow chemistry
• Micromixing
• Nanoparticle synthesis on chip
• Hydrogel beads generation
• Droplet & emulsion generation
• Bubble generation

Physics

• Leak-testing
• Soft robotics
• 3D laser printing

Through miniaturization & automation, microfluidics are a great tool to:

• Improve the precision of experiments
• Lower limits of detection
• Run multiple analyses simultaneously

Microfluidics definition: application example, droplet handling & generation

Droplet batch method versus droplet microfluidics generation

Microfluidics definition: experimental advantages

It’s in the very microfluidics definition: microfluidics implies the handling of very small volumes of  fluids (gas or liquids) that require very precise fluid control with microfluidic systems composed of flow controller (pressure-driven flow controller) or pumps (syringe, peristaltic), flow sensors (Coriolis flow sensor and/or standard flow sensor) and distribution, recirculation or injection valves to control the fluid passing through your microfluidic device. 

Microfluidic system schematic for droplet generation

Microfluidic system employed experimentally for droplet generation

Now that you know about microfluidics definition…

For more insight into the practicals of microfluidics instrumentation, watch those two videos!

For any additional questions if you want to get into more than just microfluidics definition, feel free to contact our team of experts!