Microfluidics: smaller, faster, better
Making waves with microfluidics
One of the key developments in biotechnology within the past decade is clearly the miniaturiation of many laboratory techniques, especially bioassays and methods for molecular synthesis and separation. In addition to advantages provided by the plethora of microwell- and bead-based technologies, the rise of microfluidic platforms in particular has ushered in an exciting era of microscale biology. In this new world of the ultra-small, an important challenge will be for biologists and technologists to closely collaborate in the design and optimisation of microfluidic lab-on-chip systems that represent robust, biomedically relevant assays. [More]
Going with the flow: modelling microcirculation with microfluidics
Exciting new research applications enabled by microfluidics are not limited to biotechnology and molecular biology. For example, a recent report in the the Journal of Chromatography describes the development of a microfluidic platform that enables the in vitro analysis of physiological events occurring in the microcirculation. [More]
Stemming the flow: scaling down HTS with nanoplugs
Conventional high-throughput screening usually involves the use of microwell plates that require microlitre quantities of reagents for individual reactions. In an alternative approach that makes use of plug-based microfluidics, nanolitre plugs of reagents can be used to significantly reduce the reagent requirements within the context of any large-scale screen. [More]
