Microfluidics Integrated Biosensors: Design, Fabrication, and Testing

Microfluidic systems have been quite thoroughly discussed throughout this chapter book, though it is through biosensors that such systems reveal their most intricate and advanced applications. Being of critical importance in a multitude of scientific fields, microfluidic integrated biosensors present an opportunity to both increase the sensitivity and robustness of previous systems, while introducing new functionalities and applications as well as decreasing the monetary cost of fabrication. After recapping information from previous chapters regarding microfluidics, this chapter focuses on the structure and applications of biosensors, including the types of bioreceptors and transducers currently used. Once both components have been thoroughly discussed, a microfluidic biosensor system is explained in depth, exploring the key factors to consider when designing such a system. An example of computational model is then described using a flowchart, noting equation derivation and discretization, boundary conditions, and typical limitations. Through use of similar programs, research into the production of new antigens for the detec tion and analysis of substrate in situ will be able to be performed at a much faster pace, playing an important role in the future of pharmaceuticals.