Microfluidics: Revolutionizing Personalized M...

Microfluidics: Revolutionizing Personalized Medicine and Targeted Drug Therapies

Author Name : Sahil, Vishal Kajla, Bipin Singh, Muskaan, Shivani Rangarh, Fiza Shakil, Harwinder Singh

ABSTRACT Microfluidics, the manipulation of fluids at the microscale, has become a transformative technology in the pharmaceutical industry. This review traces the field's history, from its foundational work in microanalytical systems to the advent of Micro Total Analysis Systems (µTAS) and soft lithography. The field's maturation is highlighted, with commercialization of microfluidic products and applications beyond analytical chemistry. Microfluidic platforms have significantly enhanced drug discovery by enabling high-throughput screening, toxicity testing, and pharmacokinetic studies with reduced reagent consumption and cost. They are also key in developing personalized medicine approaches, particularly in fabricating devices for patient-specific drug testing and biomarker analysis. Microfluidic technologies facilitate the synthesis and study of drug metabolites, underscoring their utility in understanding drug metabolism and designing more efficacious pharmaceuticals. The review explores fundamental principles of microfluidics, common microfluidic devices, materials used, and fabrication techniques. It also addresses the challenges and limitations faced by microfluidics, including technical and practical hurdles, regulatory and commercialization barriers, and the ongoing efforts to overcome these obstacles