The origins and the future of microfluidics

• Published in: Nature (London) Vol. 442; no. 7101; pp. 368 - 373
• Main Author: Whitesides, George M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 27.07.2006; Nature Publishing; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Animals; Biochemistry; Biological analysis; Biological and medical sciences; Chemical synthesis; Chemistry Techniques, Analytical; Developmental stages; Drug Industry - methods; Electronics; Fluid dynamics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Information technology; Innovations; Instrumentation. Materials. Reagents. Research laboratory organization; Microfluidics - instrumentation; Microfluidics - methods; Microfluidics - trends; Miniaturization; Molecular Biology; multidisciplinary; Optics; overview; R&D; Research & development; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Lab-on-a-chip; Chemical synthesis; Microelectromechanical device; Microfluidics; Nanotechnology
• ISSN: 0028-0836; 1476-4687; 1476-4687
• DOI: 10.1038/nature05058

The manipulation of fluids in channels with dimensions of tens of micrometres — microfluidics — has emerged as a distinct new field. Microfluidics has the potential to influence subject areas from chemical synthesis and biological analysis to optics and information technology. But the field is still at an early stage of development. Even as the basic science and technological demonstrations develop, other problems must be addressed: choosing and focusing on initial applications, and developing strategies to complete the cycle of development, including commercialization. The solutions to these problems will require imagination and ingenuity.