A Review of Optical Imaging Technologies for Microfluidics

Micromachines (Basel). 2022 Feb 8;13(2):274. doi: 10.3390/mi13020274.

Abstract

Microfluidics can precisely control and manipulate micro-scale fluids, and are also known as lab-on-a-chip or micro total analysis systems. Microfluidics have huge application potential in biology, chemistry, and medicine, among other fields. Coupled with a suitable detection system, the detection and analysis of small-volume and low-concentration samples can be completed. This paper reviews an optical imaging system combined with microfluidics, including bright-field microscopy, chemiluminescence imaging, spectrum-based microscopy imaging, and fluorescence-based microscopy imaging. At the end of the article, we summarize the advantages and disadvantages of each imaging technology.

Keywords: biological tissues; microfluidics; optical microscopic imaging technologies.

Publication types

  • Review