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Review
. 2022 Nov 1;12(11):956.
doi: 10.3390/bios12110956.

Novel Pumping Methods for Microfluidic Devices: A Comprehensive Review

Aleksei P Iakovlev  1 , Alexander S Erofeev  1   2 , Petr V Gorelkin  1
Affiliations
Review

Novel Pumping Methods for Microfluidic Devices: A Comprehensive Review

Aleksei P Iakovlev et al. Biosensors (Basel). .

Abstract

This review is an account of methods that use various strategies to control microfluidic flow control with high accuracy. The reviewed systems are divided into two large groups based on the way they create flow: passive systems (non-mechanical systems) and active (mechanical) systems. Each group is presented by a number of device fabrications. We try to explain the main principles of operation, and we list advantages and disadvantages of the presented systems. Mechanical systems are considered in more detail, as they are currently an area of increased interest due to their unique precision flow control and "multitasking". These systems are often applied as mini-laboratories, working autonomously without any additional operations, provided by humans, which is very important under complicated conditions. We also reviewed the integration of autonomous microfluidic systems with a smartphone or single-board computer when all data are retrieved and processed without using a personal computer. In addition, we discuss future trends and possible solutions for further development of this area of technology.

Keywords: active pumping methods; lab-on-a-chip; lab-on-a-disk; microfluidics; passive pumping methods; point-of-care devices.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic illustrations of gravity-driven systems: (a) semi-open gravity-driven overflow microfluidic flow supply system; (b) gravity-driven microfluidic siphon; (c) stand-alone pressure-driven 3D microfluidic chemical-sensing analytic device with different channel geometries.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematics of microfluidic systems with surface tension flow rate regulation: (a) microfluidic array to study Langerhans pancreatic islets; (b) schematics of droplet microfluidic system.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Examples of pressure-driven systems: (a) pump with siphon-based autofill function; (b) pressure-driven droplet generating system; (c) finger-powered microneedle array combined with microfluidic chip (from M. R. Sarabi et al. [99]).
Figure 4
Figure 4
The schematic of the LOAD device combined with pneumatic valves.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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