Microfluidics: Fabrications and applications

Microfluidics are devices or systems that can manipulate fluid flows with characteristic length scales in the micrometer range. They are powerful tools in chemistry, physics, and biology. Microfluidic systems possess the capability to execute operations more quickly, while consuming smaller amounts of chemicals and solvents, which results in lower energy use and generation of waste. With various currently available microfabrication techniques, along with improved microfabrication techniques, this technology field is moving toward industrialisation. The diversity of substrate materials makes the fabrication of various types of microchannels possible, to suit the wide applications of microfluidics.