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Pharmaceutical Development and... Jan 2023Microfluidics technology has emerged as a promising methodology for the fabrication of a wide variety of advanced drug delivery systems. Owing to its ability for... (Review)
Review
Microfluidics technology has emerged as a promising methodology for the fabrication of a wide variety of advanced drug delivery systems. Owing to its ability for accurate handling and processing of small quantities of fluidics as well as immense control over physicochemical properties of fabricated micro and nanoparticles (NPs), microfluidic technology has significantly improved the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs. This emerging technology has offered numerous advantages over the conventional drug delivery methods for fabricating of a variety of micro and nanocarriers for poorly soluble drugs. In addition, a microfluidic system can be designed for targeted drug delivery aiming to increase the local bioavailability of drugs. This review spots the light on the recent advances made in the area of microfluidics including various methods of fabrication of drug carriers, their characterization, and unique features. Furthermore, applications of microfluidic technology for the robust fabrication and development of drug delivery systems, the existing challenges associated with conventional fabrication methodologies as well as the proposed solutions offered by microfluidic technology have been discussed in details.HighlightsMicrofluidic technology has revolutionized fabrication of tunable micro and nanocarriers.Microfluidic platforms offer several advantages over the conventional fabrication methods.Microfluidic devices hold great promise in controlling the physicochemical features of fabricated drug carriers.Micro and nanocarriers with controllable release kinetics and site-targeting efficiency can be fabricated.Drug carriers fabricated by microfluidic technology exhibited improved pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles.
Topics: Microfluidics; Drug Delivery Systems; Drug Carriers; Nanoparticles
PubMed: 36592376
DOI: 10.1080/10837450.2022.2162543 -
Reports on Progress in Physics.... Jan 2012Droplet based microfluidics is a rapidly growing interdisciplinary field of research combining soft matter physics, biochemistry and microsystems engineering. Its... (Review)
Review
Droplet based microfluidics is a rapidly growing interdisciplinary field of research combining soft matter physics, biochemistry and microsystems engineering. Its applications range from fast analytical systems or the synthesis of advanced materials to protein crystallization and biological assays for living cells. Precise control of droplet volumes and reliable manipulation of individual droplets such as coalescence, mixing of their contents, and sorting in combination with fast analysis tools allow us to perform chemical reactions inside the droplets under defined conditions. In this paper, we will review available drop generation and manipulation techniques. The main focus of this review is not to be comprehensive and explain all techniques in great detail but to identify and shed light on similarities and underlying physical principles. Since geometry and wetting properties of the microfluidic channels are crucial factors for droplet generation, we also briefly describe typical device fabrication methods in droplet based microfluidics. Examples of applications and reaction schemes which rely on the discussed manipulation techniques are also presented, such as the fabrication of special materials and biophysical experiments.
Topics: Biophysical Phenomena; Electromagnetic Phenomena; Emulsions; Equipment Design; Hydrodynamics; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques; Microfluidics; Surface-Active Agents
PubMed: 22790308
DOI: 10.1088/0034-4885/75/1/016601 -
Trends in Biotechnology May 2017The traditional requirement for clean rooms and specialized skills has inhibited many biologists from pursuing new microfluidic innovations. Makerspaces provide a... (Review)
Review
The traditional requirement for clean rooms and specialized skills has inhibited many biologists from pursuing new microfluidic innovations. Makerspaces provide a growing alternative to clean rooms: they provide low-cost access to fabrication equipment such as laser cutters, plotter cutters, and 3D printers; use commercially available materials; and attract a diverse community of product designers. This Opinion discusses the materials, tools, and building methodologies particularly suited for developing novel microfluidic devices in these spaces, with insight into biological applications and leveraging the maker community. The lower barrier to access of makerspaces ameliorates the otherwise poor accessibility and scalability of microfluidic prototyping.
Topics: Biotechnology; Environment, Controlled; Equipment Design; Equipment Failure Analysis; Facility Design and Construction; Microfluidics
PubMed: 28162773
DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2017.01.001 -
Advances in Biochemical... 2022The emerging technique of microfluidics offers new approaches for precisely controlling fluidic conditions on a small scale, while simultaneously facilitating data...
The emerging technique of microfluidics offers new approaches for precisely controlling fluidic conditions on a small scale, while simultaneously facilitating data collection in both high-throughput and quantitative manners. As such, the so-called lab-on-a-chip (LOC) systems have the potential to revolutionize the field of biotechnology. But what needs to happen in order to truly integrate them into routine biotechnological applications? In this chapter, some of the most promising applications of microfluidic technology within the field of biotechnology are surveyed, and a few strategies for overcoming current challenges posed by microfluidic LOC systems are examined. In addition, we also discuss the intensifying trend (across all biotechnology fields) of using point-of-use applications which is being facilitated by new technological achievements.
Topics: Biotechnology; Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; Microfluidics
PubMed: 33495924
DOI: 10.1007/10_2020_162 -
Small (Weinheim An Der Bergstrasse,... Mar 2020Biopolymers are macromolecules that are derived from natural sources and have attractive properties for a plethora of biomedical applications due to their... (Review)
Review
Biopolymers are macromolecules that are derived from natural sources and have attractive properties for a plethora of biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, low antigenicity, and high bioactivity. Microfluidics has emerged as a powerful approach for fabricating polymeric microparticles (MPs) with designed structures and compositions through precise manipulation of multiphasic flows at the microscale. The synergistic combination of materials chemistry afforded by biopolymers and precision provided by microfluidic capabilities make it possible to design engineered biopolymer-based MPs with well-defined physicochemical properties that are capable of enabling an efficient delivery of therapeutics, 3D culture of cells, and sensing of biomolecules. Here, an overview of microfluidic approaches is provided for the design and fabrication of functional MPs from three classes of biopolymers including polysaccharides, proteins, and microbial polymers, and their advances for biomedical applications are highlighted. An outlook into the future research on microfluidically-produced biopolymer MPs for biomedical applications is also provided.
Topics: Biomedical Technology; Biopolymers; Microfluidics; Therapeutics
PubMed: 31559690
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201903736 -
Topics in Current Chemistry 2011Microfluidic devices offer a realistic environment for cell cultures as it is related to scales found in biological systems. The aim is to create more in vivo like... (Review)
Review
Microfluidic devices offer a realistic environment for cell cultures as it is related to scales found in biological systems. The aim is to create more in vivo like systems, in comparison to 2D plate cultures. Creating 3D cell culture constructs increase the cell's functionality. By controlling the microenvironment (e.g., cell matrix, flow rate, temperature) cell functionality can be increased even more. As microfluidic devices allow for precise control of the microenvironment, they are a paramount tool to study stem cells and their differentiation caused by external factors. We will give an overview of the use of microfluidic devices for some biological problems, and especially as a cell culture platforms. We focus on 3D cell cultures and stem cells and their microenvironment.
Topics: Cell Culture Techniques; Cell Physiological Phenomena; Humans; Microfluidics
PubMed: 21598103
DOI: 10.1007/128_2011_147 -
Journal of Drug Targeting Nov 2016Microfluidic devices are mircoscale fluidic circuits used to manipulate liquids at the nanoliter scale. The ability to control the mixing of fluids and the continuous... (Review)
Review
Microfluidic devices are mircoscale fluidic circuits used to manipulate liquids at the nanoliter scale. The ability to control the mixing of fluids and the continuous nature of the process make it apt for solvent/antisolvent precipitation of drug-delivery nanoparticles. This review describes the use of numerous microfluidic designs for the formulation and production of lipid nanoparticles, liposomes and polymer nanoparticles to encapsulate and deliver small molecule or genetic payloads. The advantages of microfluidics are illustrated through examples from literature comparing conventional processes such as beaker and T-tube mixing to microfluidic approaches. Particular emphasis is placed on examples of microfluidic nanoparticle formulations that have been tested in vitro and in vivo. Fine control of process parameters afforded by microfluidics, allows unprecedented optimization of nanoparticle quality and encapsulation efficiency. Automation improves the reproducibility and optimization of formulations. Furthermore, the continuous nature of the microfluidic process is inherently scalable, allowing optimization at low volumes, which is advantageous with scarce or costly materials, as well as scale-up through process parallelization. Given these advantages, microfluidics is poised to become the new paradigm for nanomedicine formulation and production.
Topics: Drug Delivery Systems; Humans; Lipids; Microfluidics; Nanomedicine
PubMed: 27492254
DOI: 10.1080/1061186X.2016.1198354 -
Lab on a Chip Jan 2006Magnetic forces are now being utilised in an amazing variety of microfluidic applications. Magnetohydrodynamic flow has been applied to the pumping of fluids through... (Review)
Review
Magnetic forces are now being utilised in an amazing variety of microfluidic applications. Magnetohydrodynamic flow has been applied to the pumping of fluids through microchannels. Magnetic materials such as ferrofluids or magnetically doped PDMS have been used as valves. Magnetic microparticles have been employed for mixing of fluid streams. Magnetic particles have also been used as solid supports for bioreactions in microchannels. Trapping and transport of single cells are being investigated and recently, advances have been made towards the detection of magnetic material on-chip. The aim of this review is to introduce and discuss the various developments within the field of magnetism and microfluidics.
Topics: Biological Assay; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Magnetics; Microfluidics; Miniaturization; Surface Properties
PubMed: 16372066
DOI: 10.1039/b513005k -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jul 2013Application of microfluidics to Positron Emission Tomography (PET) tracer synthesis has attracted increasing interest within the last decade. The technical advantages of... (Review)
Review
Application of microfluidics to Positron Emission Tomography (PET) tracer synthesis has attracted increasing interest within the last decade. The technical advantages of microfluidics, in particular the high surface to volume ratio and resulting fast thermal heating and cooling rates of reagents can lead to reduced reaction times, increased synthesis yields and reduced by-products. In addition automated reaction optimization, reduced consumption of expensive reagents and a path towards a reduced system footprint have been successfully demonstrated. The processing of radioactivity levels required for routine production, use of microfluidic-produced PET tracer doses in preclinical and clinical imaging as well as feasibility studies on autoradiolytic decomposition have all given promising results. However, the number of microfluidic synthesizers utilized for commercial routine production of PET tracers is very limited. This study reviews the state of the art in microfluidic PET tracer synthesis, highlighting critical design aspects, strengths, weaknesses and presenting several characteristics of the diverse PET market space which are thought to have a significant impact on research, development and engineering of microfluidic devices in this field. Furthermore, the topics of batch- and single-dose production, cyclotron to quality control integration as well as centralized versus de-centralized market distribution models are addressed.
Topics: Humans; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques; Microfluidics; Positron-Emission Tomography; Quality Control; Radioactive Tracers; Radioisotopes; Radiopharmaceuticals
PubMed: 23884128
DOI: 10.3390/molecules18077930 -
Cancer Medicine Jun 2020Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) largely contribute to cancer metastasis and show potential prognostic significance in cancer isolation and detection. Miniaturization has... (Review)
Review
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) largely contribute to cancer metastasis and show potential prognostic significance in cancer isolation and detection. Miniaturization has progressed significantly in the last decade which in turn enabled the development of several microfluidic systems. The microfluidic systems offer a controlled microenvironment for studies of fundamental cell biology, resulting in the rapid development of microfluidic isolation of CTCs. Due to the inherent ability of magnets to provide forces at a distance, the technology of CTCs isolation based on the magnetophoresis mechanism has become a routine methodology. This historical review aims to introduce two principles of magnetic isolation and recent techniques, facilitating research in this field and providing alternatives for researchers in their study of magnetic isolation. Researchers intend to promote effective CTC isolation and analysis as well as active development of next-generation cancer treatment. The first part of this review summarizes the primary principles based on positive and negative magnetophoretic isolation and describes the metrics for isolation performance. The second part presents a detailed overview of the factors that affect the performance of CTC magnetic isolation, including the magnetic field sources, functionalized magnetic nanoparticles, magnetic fluids, and magnetically driven microfluidic systems.
Topics: Animals; Cell Separation; Humans; Magnetic Fields; Microfluidics; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating
PubMed: 32325536
DOI: 10.1002/cam4.3077