Recent advances in microfluidic technologies for stimuli-sensitive alginate particles: Applications in biosensing and drug delivery

Microfluidic technologies, which leverage the distinctive fluid properties at the nanoscale and microscale, are experiencing a surge in interest and advancements across various scientific fields. In particular, integrating nanotechnology with microfluidics has significantly enhanced the synthesis, production, and targeted delivery of biomedical compounds, especially through nanoparticles. Researchers are increasingly drawn to microfluidic devices due to their numerous advantages, which include high reproducibility, uniform structural characteristics, potential for cost reduction, and highly controllable fluid dynamics. The unique attributes of microfluidic systems enable drug delivery platforms to achieve stability, enhanced potency, and tailored release profiles, which are critical for effective therapeutic interventions. Despite the substantial progress made in the area of drug delivery utilizing microfluidics, there remain significant concerns regarding the quality and consistency of the materials produced. Among the various materials being explored, polysaccharides stand out as a vital component of the biopolymer family, attracting considerable attention for their favorable properties. These include biodegradability, widespread natural availability, non-toxic profiles, and low production costs. Such advantageous characteristics position polysaccharides as promising candidates for formulating drug delivery systems that can encapsulate and guard sensitive pharmaceutical agents while ensuring their controlled release at targeted sites within the body. Particularly noteworthy is alginate (AlgI), a polysaccharide derived from brown seaweed, which serves as a focal point in this discussion. This article specifically reviews the opportunities and challenges associated with AlgI in the context of microfluidic-assisted drug delivery. By systematically examining recent literature, the article aims to provide a comprehensive and current perspective on recent research and innovations in this domain. This includes exploring the design and formulation of high-performance drug delivery systems that utilize microfluidic techniques combined with stimuli-responsive features of AlgI, an area that has been relatively underexplored in existing studies.