Development and future of droplet microfluidics

作者：Lang Nan, Huidan Zhang, David A. Weitz, Ho Cheung Shum · 发表于：Lab on a Chip · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1039/d3lc00729d · 被引用次数：230 · 研究领域：Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation、Electrowetting and Microfluidic Technologies、Nanomaterials and Printing Technologies

Over the past two decades, advances in droplet-based microfluidics have facilitated new approaches to process and analyze samples with unprecedented levels of precision and throughput. A wide variety of applications has been inspired across multiple disciplines ranging from materials science to biology. Understanding the dynamics of droplets enables optimization of microfluidic operations and design of new techniques tailored to emerging demands. In this review, we discuss the underlying physics behind high-throughput generation and manipulation of droplets. We also summarize the applications in droplet-derived materials and droplet-based lab-on-a-chip biotechnology. In addition, we offer perspectives on future directions to realize wider use of droplet microfluidics in industrial production and biomedical analyses.