@article {223, title = {Lab-on-a-chip for drug development.}, journal = {Adv Drug Deliv Rev}, volume = {55}, year = {2003}, month = {2003 Feb 24}, pages = {349-77}, abstract = {

Significant advances have been made in the development of micro-scale technologies for biomedical and drug discovery applications. The first generation of microfluidics-based analytical devices have been designed and are already functional. Microfluidic devices offer unique advantages in sample handling, reagent mixing, separation, and detection. We introduce and review microfluidic concepts, microconstruction techniques, and methods such as flow-injection analysis, electrokinesis, and cell manipulation. Advances in micro-device technology for proteomics, sample preconditioning, immunoassays, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and polymerase chain reaction are also reviewed.

}, keywords = {Animals, Humans, Microchemistry, Technology, Pharmaceutical}, issn = {0169-409X}, author = {Weigl, Bernhard H and Bardell, Ron L and Cabrera, Catherine R} } @article {225, title = {Microfluidic technologies in clinical diagnostics.}, journal = {Clin Chim Acta}, volume = {321}, year = {2002}, month = {2002 Jul}, pages = {1-10}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Laboratory instrumentation and analytical devices are becoming smaller, simpler, and smarter. This trend to miniaturization extends to fluid handling and fluid analysis. However, fluid behavior undergoes significant changes as geometric scale decreases. The laminar flow behavior of fluids in microfluidic devices must be accommodated in the design and development of clinical and bio-clinical miniaturized systems.

CONCLUSION: The scale of chemical and clinical analysis systems will continue to decrease. The capability to manufacture smaller fluidic devices and to quantitatively monitor smaller volumes of liquids bring this process of miniaturization into the domain of laminar flow. New and enabling technologies are being developed using the unique diffusion-based characteristics of the laminar flow domain for sample preparation and analysis. These new analytical systems will have a significant impact on the future of clinical diagnostics.

}, keywords = {Biomechanical Phenomena, Body Fluids, Chemistry, Clinical, Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid, Diffusion, Humans, Microchemistry, Miniaturization}, issn = {0009-8981}, author = {Schulte, Thomas H and Bardell, Ron L and Weigl, Bernhard H} }