Journals Related to Microfluidics and Nanofluidics

As the field of Microfluidics and Nanofluidics is expanding rapidly, the number of publications related to this field is also increasing. There are some journals that are focused on publishing micro and nano fluidic work and several other journals publish related work. Here is a list of major journals covering microfluidic/nanofluidic, lab on chip, MEMS research.

1. Lab on a Chip (LOC): Publishes on or off chip miniaturization at micro-and nano-scale in chemistry, biology, bio-engineering physics, electronics, clinical/medical science, chemical engineering and material science.

Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry, UK. 

Impact factor: 6.5 (2009)
Publishing since: 2001; 24 issues per year
Open access: No

2. Microfluidics and Nanofluidics: Publishes all aspects of microfluidics, nanofluidics, and lab-on-a-chip science and technology.

Publisher: Springer 

Impact factor: 2.6 (2013)
Publishing since: 2005; 6 issues per year
Open access: No

3. Biomicrofluidics (BMF): Publishes fundamental physicochemical mechanisms associated with microfluidic and nanofluidic phenomena as well as novel microfluidic and nanofluidic techniques for diagnostic, medical, biological, pharmaceutical, environmental, and chemical applications. 

Publisher: American Institute of Physics 

Impact factor: 3.7 (2013)
Publishing since: 2007; 6 issues per year

Open access: No

4. Electrophoresis: Publishes original manuscripts on all aspects of electrophoresis and liquid phase separations (e.g., HPLC, micro- and nano-LC, UHPLC, micro- and nano-fluidics, liquid phase micro-extraction, etc.). 

Publisher: WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Germany

Impact factor: 3.1 (2013)
Publishing since: 1980; 24 issues per year

Open access: No

5. Sensors and Actuators B-Chemical: Covers research and development in the field of chemical sensors, actuators and microsystems.

Publisher: ELSEVIER

Impact factor: 3.8 (2013)
Publishing since: 1990; 16 issues per year

Open access: No

6. Analyst: Publishes fundamental discoveries, inventions and applications in the analytical and bioanalytical sciences. It publishes microfluidics and nanofluidics works related to analytical and bioanalytical sciences. 

Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry, UK
Impact factor: 3.9 (2013)

Publishing since: 1876; 24 issues per year

Open access: No

7. Analytical Chemistry: Devoted to the dissemination of new and original knowledge in all branches of analytical chemistry. It is published by the American Chemical Society and is the most cited journal in this field.

Publisher: American Chemical Society, USA
Impact factor: 5.8 (2013)

Publishing since: 1929; 24 issues per year

Open access: No

8. Computers and fluids: Publish the development of numerical methods relevant to fluid flow computations, computational analysis of flow physics and fluid interactions

Publisher: ELSEVIER
Impact factor: 1.5 (2013)

Publishing since: 1973; 12 issues per year

Open access: No

9. Biosensors and Bioelectronics: Publishes the applications of LOC with integrated sensors, e.g., electrochem., optical sensors. 

Publisher: ELSEVIER
Impact factor: 6.4 (2013)

Publishing since: 1990; 12 issues per year

Open access: No

10. Biomedical Microdevices: Publish research in the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of LOC devices.

Publisher: Springer
Impact factor: 2.7 (2013)

Publishing since: 1998; 6 issues per year

Open access: No

Nanofluidic Platform for Virus Study

Two weeks ago, Prof Jacobson from Indiana University gave an invited talk at our department. His research focuses on developing microfabricated instrumentation and using this instrumentation to study various chemical and biochemical problems. His group is currently pursuing projects which fall into the areas of (1) microfluidic separations, (2) bacteria based studies, (3) fundamentals of nanofluidics, and (4) nanofluidic sensing. 

In his talk he focused primarily on sensing viruses using nanofluidic devices. Fabrication of nanofluidic device itself is challenging. They fabricate nanochannels which connect two microchannels. Shape (angle) of the nanochannel at microchannel-nanochannel junction shows different physical phenomenon. Nanofluidic systems can be significantly influenced by phenomena such as double layer overlap, surface charge, diffusion, and entropic forces, which are either insignificant or absent in larger microchannels. 


They have studied the characterization of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) capsids by resistive-pulse sensing through single track-etched conical nanopores formed in poly(ethylene terephthalate) membranes. When the virus capsid is allowed to travel through the nanopore, current on the nanopre is monitored. During this event, the conductivity on the nanopore changes because the virus capsid replaces the conductivity solution. This allows to monitor the virus capsid. 


Similar strategies have been used to characterize DNA molecules. DNA molecules are passed through nanochannels and change in current is monitored. When such molecules passe through the pores, there is decrease in current episode.

Nanofluidics on Lab-on-a-Chip devices

One of the key journals in analytical chemistry Analytical Chemistry have featured latest development and future of nanofluidics in lab on a chip device on September 1st, 2009 issue. The article specifically highlights progress in integrated micro- and nanofluidic devices and demonstrates how nanofluidic components may benefit sample preparation, fluid handling and injection, separation, and detection.

This article focuses on devices containing one or more nanochannels or nanoporess fluidic features with at least one dimension typically e100 nm. We will discuss discrete features e0.5 μm, as opposed to nanoporous monoliths4 or membranes with tortuous paths,5 which are reviewed elsewhere.

Nano-channels  in fluidic devices have forces and phenomena which are absent or negligible in micro-channels. This brings great promise for new analytical applications. Generally nano-channels are in the dimensions of  Electrical Double Layer (EDL). Overlap of nano-channels with EDL results ion permselectivity; localized enhancement of electric fields; and the increased influence of diffusion, surface-to-volume ratio, surface charge, and entropy. Through these effects, nanoscale components can improve routine processing and add new functionality to microfluidic devices.

Video below is a podcast prepared for Anal Chem Jeniffer, managing editor of Analytical Chemistry talks with Joanathan, associate editor of Anal Chem  about this paper and nanofluidic devices-challenges for fabrication and applications.