INTRODUCTION:
A lab-on-a-chip is a miniaturized device that integrates onto a single chip one or several analyses which are usually done in a laboratory, analyses such as DNA sequencing or biochemical detection. Research on lab-on-a-chip mainly focuses on human diagnostics and DNA analysis. Less often, lab-on-a-chip research focuses on the synthesis of chemicals. Miniaturization of biochemical operations normally handled in a laboratory has numerous advantages such as cost efficiency, parallelization, ergonomy, diagnostic speed and sensitivity. The emergence of the lab-on-a-chip field mainly relies on two core technologies: microfluidics and molecular biology.
MICROFLUIDICS:
Microfluidics is the science which studies the behaviour of fluids through micro-channels and the technology of manufacturing microminiaturized devices containing chambers and tunnels through which fluid flow is confined.
It works with very small volume of fluids down to femoliters which is a billionth of a liter.
https://youtu.be/Q5vx90C76dg
(This vedio link will help you understand microfluidics a little bit.)
TECHNIQUE OVERVIEW:
In this technique, a microfluidic chip is used which is a pattern of microchannels incorporated into the microfluidic chip is linked upto the environment by several holes of different dimensions hollowed out through the chip.
This chip requires integrated pumps, electrode, valves, electrics to become complete lab-on-a chip diagnostic system. Only a single drop of blood is required for the diagnosis.
ADVANTAGES:
These devices exploit the physical and chemical properties of liquids and gases at microscale.
1. It allows the analysis and use of less volume of samples, chemicals and reagents reducing global fees of applications.
2. Many operations can be executed at same time because of their compact size.
3. Time of results is shortened.
4. Quality data is provided.
5. The process can be automated because there is a parameter control system.
The basis of the lab-on-a-chip dream is to integrate onto a single chip thousands of biochemical operations that could be done by splitting a single drop of blood collected from the patient in order to get a precise diagnosis of potential diseases. As we will see, we are quite far from this, but current technologies are ready to enable the development of labs-on-a-chip, bringing us closer to the realisation of this dream. In the following decades, lab-on-a-chip advancements will change the way the diagnostics is done.
