Detection of Alzheimer's disease based on microfluidic technology: Technical principles, tubular structures and testing samples

• Microfluidic technology offers new prospects for Alzheimer's disease (AD) detection with miniaturization and high flux. • Electrochemical, optical, bioaffinity chromatography, and integrated techniques are used in AD detection with MFC. • Single-channel, multi-channel array, and combined structures have different detection capabilities. • Protein, gene, cell, blood, and tissue samples can be detected by MFC for AD diagnosis. • Optimization of technology and structure, and exploration of multidisciplinary integration are future directions. Alzheimer's disease (AD), a neurodegenerative ailment severely threatening human health, has numerous patients globally. The patient count rises with the aging population, burdening families and society. Lacking effective treatments currently, early screening and diagnosis of AD are of utmost importance. Microfluidic technology (MFC) offers new prospects for AD detection, featuring miniaturization and high detecting flux. This review focuses on AD detection methods based on MFC. Categorized by technical principles, they include electrochemical, optical, bioaffinity chromatography, and integrations with other techniques, each with pros and cons. In terms of tubular structures, there are single-channel, multi-channel array, microchannel-reaction chamber combinations, and others, fulfilling different detection needs. Regarding testing samples, they span protein, gene, cell, blood, and tissue samples. Despite challenges in each sample's detection, all hold potential. The MFC develops rapidly with great potential in AD screening and diagnosis. However, issues like accuracy, cost, and operational complexity remain. Future efforts should focus on optimizing technologies and methods, exploring multidisciplinary integrations, combinations, and personalized detection schemes to achieve precise and efficient early screening and diagnosis, thus aiding AD treatment and prevention.