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. 2012 Jun 2;95(2):175–198. doi: 10.3184/003685012X13361524970266

Microfluidics and the Life Sciences

Holger Becker 1,✉, Claudia Gärtner 2
PMCID: PMC10365460  PMID: 22893979

Abstract

The field of microfluidics, often also referred to as “Lab-on-a-Chip” has made significant progress in the last 15 years and is an essential tool in the development of new products and protocols in the life sciences. This article provides a broad overview on the developments on the academic as well as the commercial side. Fabrication technologies for polymer-based devices are presented and a strategy for the development of complex integrated devices is discussed, together with an example on the use of these devices in pathogen detection.

Keywords: microfluidics, Lab-on-a-Chip

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