Droplet-based microfluidics for drug delivery applications

The microfluidic method primainly utilizes two incompatible liquids as continuous phase and dispersed phase respectively. It controls the formation of droplets by managing the microchannel structure and the flow rate ratio of the two phases. Droplet-based microfluidics is a rapidly expanding interdisciplinary research field encompassing physics, biochemistry, and Microsystems engineering. Droplet microfluidics offer a diverse and practical toolset that enables chemical and biological experiments to be conducted at high speeds and with greater efficiency compared to traditional instruments. The applications of droplet-based microfluidics are vast, including areas such as drug delivery, owing to its compatibility with numerous chemical and biological reagents and its ability to carry out various operations. This technology has been extensively researched due to its promising features. In this review, we delve into the materials used in droplet generation-based microfluidic devices, manufacturing techniques, methods for droplet generation in channels, and, finally, we summarize the applications of droplet generation-based microfluidics in drug delivery vectors, encompassing nanoparticles, microspheres, microcapsules, and hydrogel particles. We also discuss the challenges and future prospects of this technology across a wide array of applications.