Droplet Microfluidics: Droplet Formation and Its Applications

This article introduces a droplet-based microfluidic system and numerous applications of that system. Droplet-based microfluidics is a remarkably growing interdisciplinary field of research that combines material science, biology and diagnostics. It is the science and technology of systems that handle tiny volumes of fluids by using microchannels with dimensions of tens to hundreds of micrometers. An obvious effect of the miniaturized system is the tremendous increase in surface area relative to volume, which allows more efficient mass and heat transfer in microsystems. Also, this system provides a benefit in that it enables controlled and rapid mixing of fluids in a droplet, resulting in decreased reaction times. Because of its great capability to precisely generate and manipulate droplets, this technology has the potential to solve biomedical engineering challenges in diagnostics and therapeutics. Droplet-based systems have been used as microreactors to synthesize novel functional materials such as protein crystals, nanocrystals, organic compounds, and complex-shaped colloids for applications in biotechnology and material-science.