Pharm-lab-on-a-chip: advancements in pharmaceutical and pharmacological analysis through microfluidic chip technology: a comprehensive review

Microfluidic technology has seen remarkable advancements in recent years, drawing significant attention in the field of pharmaceutical sciences under the term “Pharm-Lab-on-a-Chip.” Its appeal lies in numerous advantages, including high throughput, rapid detection, minimal reagent usage, efficient analysis, and compact design. Accordingly, the microfluidic platform is a promising pharmaceutical analysis tool. This review covers the advancements and utilization of microfluidic chip technology in pharmaceutical and pharmacological analysis. Firstly, the basic structure of a microfluidic chip was introduced, along with the fabrication of microfluidic chips. Subsequently, the use of the microfluidic chip in pharmaceutical analysis was discussed, with particular attention paid to the separation and analysis of drug molecules on the chip and integrating a microfluidic chip with other techniques. Furthermore, the role of microfluidic chips in pharmacological analysis was explored, mainly focusing on applying chip-based models for assessing the effectiveness and safety of drugs.

Graphical abstract