Microfluidics

Abstract

The field of microfluidics has become one of the most dynamic disciplines of microtechnology. On the one hand, microfluidics offers the mere benefits of miniaturization, enabling many fields of application, in particular where small liquid volumes, transportable and cheap devices, or integrated process control are beneficial. On the other hand, microfluidics provides an elegant and often exclusive access to the nanoworld of biomolecular chemistry and cell handling, leveraging many novel biotechnological applications. This chapter first outlines the fluidic properties and working principles underlying microfluidic devices, such as diffusion, heat transport, interfacial surface tension, and electrokinetic effects. It then introduces fabrication techniques and sketches microfluidic components for flow control, pumping, physical sensing, and dispensing and their applications in (bio-)analytical chemistry, drug discovery, and chemical process engineering. © 2006 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.