Next-Generation Miniaturized Separation Platforms: Converging Detection, Automation, and Sustainable Design for Intelligent Analytical Science.

Abstract

The miniaturization of separation platforms marks a transformative shift in analytical science, merging microfabrication, automation, and intelligent data integration to meet rising demands for portability, sustainability, and precision. This review critically synthesizes recent technological advances reshaping the field-from microinjection and preconcentration modules to compact, high-sensitivity detection systems including ultraviolet-visible (UV/Vis), fluorescence (FL), electrochemical detection (ECD), and mass spectrometry (MS). The integration of microcontrollers, AI-enhanced calibration routines, and IoT-enabled feedback loops has led to the rise of self-regulating analytical devices capable of real-time decision-making and autonomous operation. Additive manufacturing further accelerates innovation by enabling rapid prototyping and customization through three-dimensional (3D) printing of entire Laboratory-on-Chip (LOC) systems, detectors, and embedded electrodes. Despite these advances, several critical challenges remain. Issues in flow stability, sample compatibility, standardization, and long-term reliability continue to hinder widespread deployment in real-world environments. This review highlights both technical breakthroughs and unresolved limitations across pharmaceutical, environmental, clinical, forensic, and food safety domains. Special emphasis is placed on the convergence of hardware miniaturization with smart software architectures to create adaptive, scalable platforms. Looking ahead, future systems must prioritize interoperability, energy efficiency, and AI-guided control to realize the full potential of decentralized analytical diagnostics. Ultimately, the next generation of separation science will be shaped not only by miniaturization-but also by intelligent design, sustainable engineering, and integrative system thinking.