The lab finally comes to the chip!
George Whitesides, the Chair of the Editorial Board of Lab on a Chip, introduces this year’s “Insights” themed issue.
Frontier
User-friendly 3D bioassays with cell-containing hydrogel modules: narrowing the gap between microfluidic bioassays and clinical end-users' needs
This frontier article reviews recent progress in the development and application of user-friendly 3D bioassay techniques combined with cell-containing hydrogel modules.
Physics and technological aspects of nanofluidics
Cartoon representing the main mechanisms that operate in the nano-, micro- and millifluidic realms. The mechanisms are illustrated by characters whose positions in the spectrum of scales are fixed by the characteristic lengths they are associated with. The fundamental questions of nanofluidics are the following: How do the characteristic scales pertaining to the 1–100 nm range interfere with the system size? Can they combine together to produce new physical effects?
Gradient generation platforms: new directions for an established microfluidic technology
Microscale platforms are enabling for cell-based studies as they allow the recapitulation of physiological conditions such as extracellular matrix (ECM) configurations and soluble factors interactions.
Frontier
Nanocrystal synthesis in microfluidic reactors: where next?
The authors contemplate the challenges ahead for nanocrystal synthesis in microreactors.
Frontier
Digital biology and chemistry
A personal overview of digital biology and chemistry in the context of lab-on-a-chip technologies.
Frontier
Tools for chemical synthesis in microsystems
Major developments in systems for flow chemistry are reviewed and limitations underlying the development of chip-scale integrated systems are discussed.
Frontier
Nanofluidics in point of care applications
The use of liquid flow around or in structures of smaller than 100 nm in point of care applications.
Approaching the in vitro clinical trial: engineering organs on chips
In vitro cell culture and animal models are the most heavily relied upon tools of the pharmaceutical industry.
Insight: implantable medical devices
This perspective article provides an overview of the implantable medical device ecosystem, highlights recent developments, and discusses challenges and opportunities for translation of new innovative implants enabled by microtechnologies and microfabrication.
Protein measurements in microwells
Protein measurements are essential to many fields ranging from fundamental biochemistry to clinical diagnostics.
Energy: the microfluidic frontier
Highlighted here are the exceptional opportunities I see for microfluidics in energy.
Lights and shadows on Food Microfluidics
Food Microfluidics: science, technology and creativity making food analysis safer, faster and easier.
Microfluidics for single-cell genetic analysis
New tools are needed to study single-cell genetics, and a microfluidic approach offers unique advantages and challenges.
Smartphone technology can be transformative to the deployment of lab-on-chip diagnostics
The rapid expansion of mobile technology is transforming the biomedical landscape.
Elevating sampling
This perspective highlights challenges and opportunities in the collection and preparation of a target from real-world sources for subsequent processing in micro- and nanofluidic systems.
Mobile phones democratize and cultivate next-generation imaging, diagnostics and measurement tools
Some of the emerging applications and the future opportunities and challenges created by the use of mobile phones and their embedded components for the development of next-generation imaging, sensing, diagnostics and measurement tools are discussed.
Biomedical imaging and sensing using flatbed scanners
In this Review, we provide an overview of flatbed scanner based biomedical imaging and sensing techniques.
About this collection
Lab on a Chip constantly strives to assist and stimulate the community to develop new tools and concepts for advancement and adaptation of microfluidics in any way that the journal is able. Guest edited by Professor George Whitesides, Chair of the Lab on a Chip Editorial Board, this collection of articles features insightful and unique articles focusing on the potential for microfluidics in today’s society. Covering topics of mobile diagnostics, implantable medical devices, smartphone technology, food microfluidics, digital biology and more, this issue collates the opinions and views of thought leaders in the field, who communicate their aspirations and concerns for the subject, based on their own experiences.