Advancements in microfluidic droplet generation: methods and insights

IF 2.3 4区工程技术 Q2 INSTRUMENTS & INSTRUMENTATION

Microfluidics and Nanofluidics Pub Date : 2025-03-24 DOI:10.1007/s10404-025-02796-6

Shobhit Das, Harikrishnan Narayanan Unni

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Droplet microfluidics, a subset of microfluidics, focuses on the controlled generation, manipulation, and transport of micro- to femto-scale droplets. In the last three decades, this technology has become essential in high-throughput applications across biological and chemical analyses, enabling advances in areas such as cell encapsulation, drug screening, digital PCR, and protein crystallization along with applications in chemical mixing, chemical kinetics and chromatography. This review systematically classifies droplet generation methods into classical and contemporary techniques to discuss the technological evolution in droplet generation practice, and further subdivision into passive and active methods based on their operational principles. The paper further discusses about centrifugal microfluidic platform and its applications. Furthermore, the review briefly discusses recent trends in closed-loop feedback based droplet generation methods. By comparing the strengths, limitations, and applications of these techniques, this review provides information on the selection of droplet generation methods for specific applications and highlights potential directions for future research and technological development.

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来源期刊

Microfluidics and Nanofluidics 工程技术-纳米科技

CiteScore

4.80

自引率

3.60%

发文量

审稿时长

2 months

期刊介绍： Microfluidics and Nanofluidics is an international peer-reviewed journal that aims to publish papers in all aspects of microfluidics, nanofluidics and lab-on-a-chip science and technology. The objectives of the journal are to (1) provide an overview of the current state of the research and development in microfluidics, nanofluidics and lab-on-a-chip devices, (2) improve the fundamental understanding of microfluidic and nanofluidic phenomena, and (3) discuss applications of microfluidics, nanofluidics and lab-on-a-chip devices. Topics covered in this journal include: 1.000 Fundamental principles of micro- and nanoscale phenomena like, flow, mass transport and reactions 3.000 Theoretical models and numerical simulation with experimental and/or analytical proof 4.000 Novel measurement & characterization technologies 5.000 Devices (actuators and sensors) 6.000 New unit-operations for dedicated microfluidic platforms 7.000 Lab-on-a-Chip applications 8.000 Microfabrication technologies and materials Please note, Microfluidics and Nanofluidics does not publish manuscripts studying pure microscale heat transfer since there are many journals that cover this field of research (Journal of Heat Transfer, Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow, etc.).