Resumen

LAPIZCO-ENCINAS, B.H.. Microfluidics applications in bioseparations. Rev. Mex. Ing. Quím [online]. 2008, vol.7, n.3, pp.205-214. ISSN 1665-2738.

Microsystems for analysis, also known as lab-on-a-chip devices, are becoming increasingly important for the biotechnological and pharmaceutical industries, in analytical or preparative (high production) applications. The advantages that microdevices offer are shorter time and lower reagent consumption. The advances in microfluidics, the science that studies the handling of fluids on microscale (10^-9 to 10^-18 liters), have allowed the development of microdevices with applications in bioseparations. Chromatography, electrophoresis y dielectrophoresis are the bioseparation techniques more applicable on microscale, these techniques have been successfully utilized for the separation and concentration of a wide variety of bioparticles, ranging from proteins to parasites. The present paper presents an analysis of the advances in the field of microscale bioseparations, i.e. the application of microfluidics in bioseparations, the objective is to provide the reader with information on the state of the art in this field. Furthermore, an overview of the development of this research field in Mexico is presented, where information about the mexican researchers and institutions working in this field is included.

Palabras llave : microfluidics; bioseparation; dielectrophoresis; electrophoresis; chromatography.