A deep dive into hydrodynamic dispersion in microfluidic systems

Hydrodynamic dispersion of solutes is a pivotal phenomenon in microfluidic systems, wherein the axial spreading of various dissolved species-including ions, chemical compounds, biomolecules, dyes, pharmaceuticals, and nanoparticles-occurs due to the coupled effects of molecular diffusion and the non-uniform velocity profiles inherent to confined laminar flows. Given its profound impact on a broad range of applications-spanning analytical, diagnostic, bioengineering, pharmaceutical, environmental, and chemical processing systems-mastering the mechanisms of dispersion is crucial for enhancing separation efficiency, reproducibility, reaction performance, and analytical throughput, while minimizing sample volume,…