Lab-on-a-chip technology and microfluidics

Abstract

This chapter presents an overview of the main topics related to microfluidics for pharmaceutical applications. It begins with a general introduction on lab-on-a-chip technology and microfluidics, in which the main definitions, concepts, and characteristics are presented. Further, the main materials and processing techniques used for the development of microfluidic systems are introduced. Finally, the most representative applications are discussed. Applications are focusing on the areas of drug development, drug delivery and diagnosis, cell-based devices, and organs-on-a-chip devices, the latest step toward whole-body models. Thus, a complete overview in the area is provided, followed by a summary and outlook on open questions and future trends.