Innovative microfluidic technologies are revolutionizing diagnostics!

Innovative microfluidic technologies are revolutionizing diagnostics!

On May 16, 2025, a groundbreaking experiment for the interferometric detection of atomic movements in crystals was carried out at the Technical University of Dortmund. The researchers Marek Karzel and Dr. Alexey Scherbakov from the Department of Physics introduced a 100 femtosecond laser pulse that heated a metal film on a crystalline plate. The temperature rise of the film was only 0.1 degrees. Despite this minimal increase, the thermal expansion of the film generated an acoustic wave that was successfully detected on the opposite side of the plate as it reached the superlattice. The experiment is part of comprehensive research that opens up new possibilities in materials study and quantum metrology. It was also published in the renowned journal “Nature Materials”.

Dr. Anton Samusev took the opportunity to explain that the experiment differs significantly from the LIGO project. While LIGO records individual events, in this case numerous measurements are required. The experimental conditions in the laboratory make it possible to carry out repetitions millions of times per second. These significant advances could revolutionize knowledge in materials science and beyond, enabling a deeper understanding of atomic motions that were previously elusive.

Microfluidics and their applications

As research in physics advances, microfluidics, an emerging field within microengineering, is also experiencing remarkable development. Miniaturization in microtechnology has opened up new possibilities through innovative approaches in microelectronics and microfluidics. Microfluidics enables complete chemical analyzes to be performed through integrated chip systems known as lab-on-a-chip (LOC) or micro-total analysis systems (µTAS). These technologies transport chemicals in defined channel structures, similar to how electronic circuits transport electrons.

The main fields of application of LOC technology are diverse and range from miniaturized laboratory devices, such as gas chromatography and electrophoresis, to point of care testing systems for medical diagnostics. These include blood glucose meters, pregnancy tests, blood coagulation tests and tests for cardiovascular markers. The advantages of these microfluidic solutions lie in accelerated analysis, on-site diagnostics and multi-parameter determination.

Technological challenges and future perspectives

The design and manufacture of microfluidic chips are usually made from plastics to minimize manufacturing costs. Typical materials such as polycarbonate (PC) are important to ensure good fluid flow. The manufacturing processes in ISAT include various techniques such as pressing, injection molding, photolithography and milling. The design of the channel structures has a major influence on the flow behavior, which can be simulated using software tools. This enables the production of chips that are specifically optimized for specific analytical questions.

Despite the promising developments, microfluidics currently faces technical challenges and incentive problems that inhibit the full exploitation of its potential. An improvement in the accessibility, user-friendliness and manufacturability of the technologies is recommended. A change of perspective in the field of microfluidics is necessary in order to overcome existing challenges and further advance the field of medical and scientific applications. Future-oriented approaches could significantly increase the potential of the technologies, particularly in hematology and vascular biology, where microfluidics can mimic physiological flow conditions in blood vessels and capillaries.

In summary, both advances in the detection of atomic motion in crystals and developments in microfluidics inspire each other and lead to a better understanding of highly complex systems. Innovative approaches will play a central role in both basic research and clinical diagnostics.