The pharmaceutical industry has adopted many microfluidic processes in the discovery, and subsequent delivery, of new drugs for personalized medicine usage. Microfluidic devices can speed up many areas of the entire process including target selection, clinical trials, chemical synthesis, and product management. With the high cost of drug research and development, advances in microfluidics may ultimately lead to the reduced prescription costs for consumers.

Environmental testing is emerging as a top application for microfluidic technology. This is due in large part because environmental testing can fully utilize the smaller sample volumes. This leads to an increase in efficiency when detecting abnormalities. Continuous sampling and real time testing also makes early warning of biochemical toxins and other pathogens in the air and/or water supply possible.

As we explore our galaxy, sending man and unmanned missions to nearby moons and planets, scientists are eager to study gathered soil and rocks. Obviously, bringing these back from outer space is very costly. Microfluidics can help offset some costs. This is because microfluidics only requires a tiny sample amount for analysis. Geologists and astrophysicists can now effectively study the make up of distant planets. Here on earth, scientists are using microfluidics to study oil and gas exploration and their respective impacts on the surrounding area.

Microfluidics in manufacturing is less mainstream but is quickly gaining steam in its applications. The chemical industry is working on a parallel process called “micro-reactors.” This process is considered to be more economical than current methods that are in use.