Capillary microfluidics for diagnostic applications: fundamentals, mechanisms, and capillarics
Microfluidic systems, especially those using capillary forces, have recently attracted considerable interest due to their potential to facilitate passive fluid management in portable diagnostic devices and point-of-care settings. These systems utilize capillary forces to autonomously regulate fluid...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Lab on a Chip Technologies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frlct.2025.1502127/full |
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| author | Elham Khanjani Andrea Fergola Joan Antoni López Martínez Simin Nazarnezhad Simin Nazarnezhad Jasmina Casals Terre Simone Luigi Marasso Simone Luigi Marasso Behrouz Aghajanloo |
| author_facet | Elham Khanjani Andrea Fergola Joan Antoni López Martínez Simin Nazarnezhad Simin Nazarnezhad Jasmina Casals Terre Simone Luigi Marasso Simone Luigi Marasso Behrouz Aghajanloo |
| author_sort | Elham Khanjani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Microfluidic systems, especially those using capillary forces, have recently attracted considerable interest due to their potential to facilitate passive fluid management in portable diagnostic devices and point-of-care settings. These systems utilize capillary forces to autonomously regulate fluid flow, eliminating the requirement for external power and providing a more straightforward and economical option compared to active microfluidic systems. This review examines the fundamental concepts of capillary-driven microfluidics, emphasizing significant progress in the design of capillary pumps and valves, as well as the influence of surface tension, wettability, and the geometrical configurations of microchannels on the enhancement of fluid dynamics. Furthermore, the review explores other configurations, such as porous and solid substrates, to illustrate their potential for healthcare and biochemical applications. Moreover, the challenges related to managing flow rates and enhancing the reproducibility of devices are addressed, alongside recent innovations designed to overcome these challenges. Capillary systems offer an effective and reliable foundation for developing miniaturized diagnostic instruments, which hold significant potential across various domains, including biological research and environmental monitoring. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-144e5d1c9fd544f593c949c4b8c992dd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2813-3862 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Lab on a Chip Technologies |
| spelling | doaj-art-144e5d1c9fd544f593c949c4b8c992dd2025-01-28T06:40:58ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Lab on a Chip Technologies2813-38622025-01-01410.3389/frlct.2025.15021271502127Capillary microfluidics for diagnostic applications: fundamentals, mechanisms, and capillaricsElham Khanjani0Andrea Fergola1Joan Antoni López Martínez2Simin Nazarnezhad3Simin Nazarnezhad4Jasmina Casals Terre5Simone Luigi Marasso6Simone Luigi Marasso7Behrouz Aghajanloo8Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering (CME), Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, CanadaDepartment of Electronics and Telecommunncations (DET), Politecnico di Torino, Turin, ItalyDepartment of Engineering Design, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya ⋅ BarcelonaTech (UPC), Barcelona, SpainMetabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IranTissue Engineering Research Group (TERG), Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IranDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC), Barcelona, SpainChiLab- Materials and Microsystems Laboratory, Politecnico di Torino, Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Chivasso, ItalyCNR-IMEM, National Research Council-Institute of Materials for Electronics and Magnetism, Parma, ItalySchool of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaMicrofluidic systems, especially those using capillary forces, have recently attracted considerable interest due to their potential to facilitate passive fluid management in portable diagnostic devices and point-of-care settings. These systems utilize capillary forces to autonomously regulate fluid flow, eliminating the requirement for external power and providing a more straightforward and economical option compared to active microfluidic systems. This review examines the fundamental concepts of capillary-driven microfluidics, emphasizing significant progress in the design of capillary pumps and valves, as well as the influence of surface tension, wettability, and the geometrical configurations of microchannels on the enhancement of fluid dynamics. Furthermore, the review explores other configurations, such as porous and solid substrates, to illustrate their potential for healthcare and biochemical applications. Moreover, the challenges related to managing flow rates and enhancing the reproducibility of devices are addressed, alongside recent innovations designed to overcome these challenges. Capillary systems offer an effective and reliable foundation for developing miniaturized diagnostic instruments, which hold significant potential across various domains, including biological research and environmental monitoring.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frlct.2025.1502127/fullmicrofluidicscapillary valvescapillary pumpsbiochemical assaysPOC diagnostics |
| spellingShingle | Elham Khanjani Andrea Fergola Joan Antoni López Martínez Simin Nazarnezhad Simin Nazarnezhad Jasmina Casals Terre Simone Luigi Marasso Simone Luigi Marasso Behrouz Aghajanloo Capillary microfluidics for diagnostic applications: fundamentals, mechanisms, and capillarics Frontiers in Lab on a Chip Technologies microfluidics capillary valves capillary pumps biochemical assays POC diagnostics |
| title | Capillary microfluidics for diagnostic applications: fundamentals, mechanisms, and capillarics |
| title_full | Capillary microfluidics for diagnostic applications: fundamentals, mechanisms, and capillarics |
| title_fullStr | Capillary microfluidics for diagnostic applications: fundamentals, mechanisms, and capillarics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Capillary microfluidics for diagnostic applications: fundamentals, mechanisms, and capillarics |
| title_short | Capillary microfluidics for diagnostic applications: fundamentals, mechanisms, and capillarics |
| title_sort | capillary microfluidics for diagnostic applications fundamentals mechanisms and capillarics |
| topic | microfluidics capillary valves capillary pumps biochemical assays POC diagnostics |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frlct.2025.1502127/full |
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