title: The present and future role of microfluidics in biomedical research.
abstract: Microfluidics, a technology characterized by the engineered manipulation of fluids at the submillimetre scale, has shown considerable promise for improving diagnostics and biology research. Certain properties of microfluidic technologies, such as rapid sample processing and the precise control of fluids in an assay, have made them attractive candidates to replace traditional experimental approaches. Here we analyse the progress made by lab-on-a-chip microtechnologies in recent years, and discuss the clinical and research areas in which they have made the greatest impact. We also suggest directions that biologists, engineers and clinicians can take to help this technology live up to its potential.
authors.affiliation: Materials Science Program, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53705-2275, USA.
authors.forename: Eric K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Sackmann
authors.affiliation: Wendt Commons Library, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 215 North Randall Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
authors.forename: Anna L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Fulton
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Room 6009, Madison, Wisconsin 53705-2275, USA.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Beebe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry; D054443:Cell Migration Assays; D002633:Chemotaxis; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D055808:Drug Discovery; D006801:Humans; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends