Emerging Droplet Microfluidics

Abstract

Droplet microfluidics generates and manipulates discrete droplets through immiscible multiphase flows inside microchannels. Due to its remarkable advantages, droplet microfluidics bears significant value in an extremely wide range of area. In this review, we provide a comprehensive and in-depth insight into droplet microfluidics, covering fundamental research from microfluidic chip fabrication and droplet generation to the applications of droplets in bio(chemical) analysis and materials generation. The purpose of this review is to convey the fundamentals of droplet microfluidics, a critical analysis on its current status and challenges, and opinions on its future development. We believe this review will promote communications among biology, chemistry, physics, and materials science.

Responsive graphene oxide hydrogel microcarriers for controllable cell capture and release

“…In particular, microcarriers have emerged as an optimized strategy based on novel 3D biomaterial scaffold platforms, which have advantages in terms of space saving, cost effectiveness, and lower time and labor requirements for cell culture [8][9][10]. Several approaches have been employed for engineering cell microcarriers, including micromolding, electrojetting, photolithography and microfluidics [10][11][12][13][14]. Among them, microfluidic emulsified microcarriers are the most attractive due to the unprecedented control over their size, shape, and morphology [14][15][16][17][18].…”

“…Several approaches have been employed for engineering cell microcarriers, including micromolding, electrojetting, photolithography and microfluidics [10][11][12][13][14]. Among them, microfluidic emulsified microcarriers are the most attractive due to the unprecedented control over their size, shape, and morphology [14][15][16][17][18]. And thus various biocompatible microcarriers have been generated for biomedical applications by employing different types of biopolymers in the microfluidic emulsion templates [19][20][21][22][23].…”

Luminescent nanomaterials for droplet tracking in a microfluidic trapping array

“…[1–3] Droplet microfluidics has emerged as a single cell sorting technology which offers several advantages over existing large-scale technologies like capillary electrophoresis, flow cytometry, and mass cytometry in terms of its reduced reagent costs, ease-of-use, and compatibility with fluorescent microscopy. [4, 5] Fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) is a commercialized flow cytometry technique, capable of simultaneous quantification up to 20 parameters in single cells based on specific light scattering and fluorescent characteristics of each cell (called fluorescence-cell barcoding). [6, 7] However, flow cytometry is often limited by its need for large sample size, the cost and size of the instrument,[8] and the use of rapid flow in the system which, when coupled with non-specific surface markers, can negatively affect cell viability.…”

Dual-nozzle microfluidic droplet generator

“…Typically, droplets provide faster mass and thermal transfer, while preventing boundary effects, such as axial dispersion. Furthermore, they provide small, reproducible volumes, can be manipulated independently, and serve as individual units for reactions [6]. Due to their high homogeneity and fast mass transfer, they are commonly used for the controlled synthesis of nanoparticles [7, 8].…”