Microfluidics in biomedical research and its application in orthopedics: a perspective review

Abstract In alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), performing research in the most feasible, reproducible, economical, and environmentally friendly way is important. Microfluidic systems are platforms where fluids are controlled on a micro-scale. They use small channels in the range of micrometers to rapidly process the fluids used in the study. This can further mimic many biological systems for studies. With the recent advances in the field of microfluidics, it has been used in the field of biomedical engineering. This review starts with the principle behind microfluidics, which has two parts. The first part of the review widely explains its applications in various biomedical research, including diagnostics, analytical, and therapeutic evaluation techniques. The second part of the review highlights the importance of microfluidics in orthopedic research concerning implant evaluation, drug development, printing scaffolds, and biomechanics aspects. Further, it highlights the applications of microfluidic systems, discusses their futuristic potential, and underscores the advancement of microfluidics in clinical diagnostics and biomedical research.