Integration column: Microfluidic high-throughput screening

Abstract

Biology has always been a heavily technology limited field. Burgeoning fields such as systems biology require the development and implementation of new technologies, enabling high-throughput and high-fidelity measurements of large systems. Microfluidics promises to fulfil many of the requirements put forth. Here I will discuss the various approaches employed to date for performing high-throughput screening experiments on-chip, encompassing biochemical, biophysical, and cell-based assays.