Emerging Trends in Microfluidic Biomaterials: From Functional Design to Applications
The rapid development of microfluidics has driven innovations in material engineering, particularly through its ability to precisely manipulate fluids and cells at microscopic scales. Microfluidic biomaterials, a cutting-edge interdisciplinary field integrating microfluidic technology with biomateri...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Functional Biomaterials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/16/5/166 |
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| author | Jiaqi Lin Lijuan Cui Xiaokun Shi Shuping Wu |
| author_facet | Jiaqi Lin Lijuan Cui Xiaokun Shi Shuping Wu |
| author_sort | Jiaqi Lin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The rapid development of microfluidics has driven innovations in material engineering, particularly through its ability to precisely manipulate fluids and cells at microscopic scales. Microfluidic biomaterials, a cutting-edge interdisciplinary field integrating microfluidic technology with biomaterials science, are revolutionizing biomedical research. This review focuses on the functional design and fabrication of organ-on-a-chip (OoAC) platforms via 3D bioprinting, explores the applications of biomaterials in drug delivery, cell culture, and tissue engineering, and evaluates the potential of microfluidic systems in advancing personalized healthcare. We systematically analyze the evolution of microfluidic materials—from silicon and glass to polymers and paper—and highlight the advantages of 3D bioprinting over traditional fabrication methods. Currently, despite significant advances in microfluidics in medicine, challenges in scalability, stability, and clinical translation remain. The future of microfluidic biomaterials will depend on combining 3D bioprinting with dynamic functional design, developing hybrid strategies that combine traditional molds with bio-printed structures, and using artificial intelligence to monitor drug delivery or tissue response in real time. We believe that interdisciplinary collaborations between materials science, micromachining, and clinical medicine will accelerate the translation of organ-on-a-chip platforms into personalized therapies and high-throughput drug screening tools. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-650bdea210404e61b42c6daec69c9911 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2079-4983 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Functional Biomaterials |
| spelling | doaj-art-650bdea210404e61b42c6daec69c99112025-08-20T02:33:54ZengMDPI AGJournal of Functional Biomaterials2079-49832025-05-0116516610.3390/jfb16050166Emerging Trends in Microfluidic Biomaterials: From Functional Design to ApplicationsJiaqi Lin0Lijuan Cui1Xiaokun Shi2Shuping Wu3Institute of Polymer Materials, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaInstitute of Polymer Materials, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaInstitute of Polymer Materials, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaInstitute of Polymer Materials, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaThe rapid development of microfluidics has driven innovations in material engineering, particularly through its ability to precisely manipulate fluids and cells at microscopic scales. Microfluidic biomaterials, a cutting-edge interdisciplinary field integrating microfluidic technology with biomaterials science, are revolutionizing biomedical research. This review focuses on the functional design and fabrication of organ-on-a-chip (OoAC) platforms via 3D bioprinting, explores the applications of biomaterials in drug delivery, cell culture, and tissue engineering, and evaluates the potential of microfluidic systems in advancing personalized healthcare. We systematically analyze the evolution of microfluidic materials—from silicon and glass to polymers and paper—and highlight the advantages of 3D bioprinting over traditional fabrication methods. Currently, despite significant advances in microfluidics in medicine, challenges in scalability, stability, and clinical translation remain. The future of microfluidic biomaterials will depend on combining 3D bioprinting with dynamic functional design, developing hybrid strategies that combine traditional molds with bio-printed structures, and using artificial intelligence to monitor drug delivery or tissue response in real time. We believe that interdisciplinary collaborations between materials science, micromachining, and clinical medicine will accelerate the translation of organ-on-a-chip platforms into personalized therapies and high-throughput drug screening tools.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/16/5/166microfluidic technologymicrofluidic biomaterialsorgan-on-a-chip3D bioprintingmedical applications |
| spellingShingle | Jiaqi Lin Lijuan Cui Xiaokun Shi Shuping Wu Emerging Trends in Microfluidic Biomaterials: From Functional Design to Applications Journal of Functional Biomaterials microfluidic technology microfluidic biomaterials organ-on-a-chip 3D bioprinting medical applications |
| title | Emerging Trends in Microfluidic Biomaterials: From Functional Design to Applications |
| title_full | Emerging Trends in Microfluidic Biomaterials: From Functional Design to Applications |
| title_fullStr | Emerging Trends in Microfluidic Biomaterials: From Functional Design to Applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Emerging Trends in Microfluidic Biomaterials: From Functional Design to Applications |
| title_short | Emerging Trends in Microfluidic Biomaterials: From Functional Design to Applications |
| title_sort | emerging trends in microfluidic biomaterials from functional design to applications |
| topic | microfluidic technology microfluidic biomaterials organ-on-a-chip 3D bioprinting medical applications |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/16/5/166 |
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