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Lab-on-a-Chip and microfluidics technologies for nano drug delivery

Lab-on-a-Chip and microfluidics technologies for nano drug delivery
Lab-on-a-Chip and microfluidics technologies for nano drug delivery

Lab-on-a-Chip (LoC) and microfluidic technologies are rapidly reshaping the development pipeline for nano drug delivery systems (DDSs) by enabling precise control of physicochemical properties, high-throughput screening, and integrated biological evaluation within miniaturized platforms. This review synthesizes recent advances in microfluidic principles, fabrication strategies, and sensing modalities that facilitate continuous flow synthesis, real-time characterization, and adaptive formulation of nanoparticles. We highlight how LoC-enabled systems improve monodispersity, reproducibility, and tunability of liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, and metallic nanocarriers, while providing powerful tools for assessing pharmacokinetics, drug release, and systemic responses using organ-on-chip (OoC) models. Emerging trends, including AI-driven autonomous optimization, stimuli-responsive materials, 3D-printed hybrid architectures, and self-powered portable devices, are discussed in the context of future integrated nano-pharmaceutics platforms. Despite existing challenges related to biocompatibility, standardization, data integration, and translation to industrial and clinical applications, the synergistic evolution of LoC engineering and nanomedicine holds transformative potential for personalized and next-generation therapeutic strategies.

drug delivery systems, lab-on-a-chip, microfluidics, nanomedicine, nanoparticle synthesis
2306-5354
Guo, Bochun
2b4a6b1d-ce3f-4ff0-a574-3a9754a066fe
Zhao, Yuchao
0b5eafdf-0011-4a02-840f-e5b88b61a708
Zhang, Xunli
d7cf1181-3276-4da1-9150-e212b333abb1
Guo, Bochun
2b4a6b1d-ce3f-4ff0-a574-3a9754a066fe
Zhao, Yuchao
0b5eafdf-0011-4a02-840f-e5b88b61a708
Zhang, Xunli
d7cf1181-3276-4da1-9150-e212b333abb1

Guo, Bochun, Zhao, Yuchao and Zhang, Xunli (2026) Lab-on-a-Chip and microfluidics technologies for nano drug delivery. Bioengineering, 13 (3), [363]. (doi:10.3390/bioengineering13030363).

Record type: Review

Abstract

Lab-on-a-Chip (LoC) and microfluidic technologies are rapidly reshaping the development pipeline for nano drug delivery systems (DDSs) by enabling precise control of physicochemical properties, high-throughput screening, and integrated biological evaluation within miniaturized platforms. This review synthesizes recent advances in microfluidic principles, fabrication strategies, and sensing modalities that facilitate continuous flow synthesis, real-time characterization, and adaptive formulation of nanoparticles. We highlight how LoC-enabled systems improve monodispersity, reproducibility, and tunability of liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, and metallic nanocarriers, while providing powerful tools for assessing pharmacokinetics, drug release, and systemic responses using organ-on-chip (OoC) models. Emerging trends, including AI-driven autonomous optimization, stimuli-responsive materials, 3D-printed hybrid architectures, and self-powered portable devices, are discussed in the context of future integrated nano-pharmaceutics platforms. Despite existing challenges related to biocompatibility, standardization, data integration, and translation to industrial and clinical applications, the synergistic evolution of LoC engineering and nanomedicine holds transformative potential for personalized and next-generation therapeutic strategies.

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bioengineering-13-00363 - Version of Record
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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 18 March 2026
e-pub ahead of print date: 20 March 2026
Published date: 20 March 2026
Keywords: drug delivery systems, lab-on-a-chip, microfluidics, nanomedicine, nanoparticle synthesis

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 511925
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/511925
ISSN: 2306-5354
PURE UUID: c21ecfe1-19f5-4578-9b9b-060e037695c4
ORCID for Xunli Zhang: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-4375-1571

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 11 Jun 2026 16:36
Last modified: 12 Jun 2026 01:41

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Contributors

Author: Bochun Guo
Author: Yuchao Zhao
Author: Xunli Zhang ORCID iD

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