Microfluidik

Microfluidics is a scientific field that studies the behavior, control, and manipulation of fluids that are confined to microscopic structures, typically with channel dimensions in the micrometer range. These structures, often referred to as microchannels, allow for the precise handling of very small volumes of liquids, from nanoliters down to femtoliters. The unique physical phenomena that dominate at these scales, such as surface tension, laminar flow, and diffusion, differ significantly from those observed in macroscopic fluid dynamics.

The fundamental principles of microfluidics involve the design and fabrication of devices containing these microchannels, along with the methods for introducing, mixing, separating, and detecting fluids within them. This field draws upon principles from fluid mechanics, chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering. Microfluidic devices offer advantages such as reduced reagent consumption, faster reaction times, increased sensitivity, and the potential for high-throughput analysis and miniaturization.

Applications of microfluidics are widespread and continue to expand. They are found in laboratory-on-a-chip devices for diagnostics, drug discovery and screening, environmental monitoring, and the analysis of biological samples like cells and DNA. The ability to integrate multiple laboratory functions onto a single small device makes microfluidics a key technology for developing portable and cost-effective analytical systems.