Systematic review on the role of microfluidic platforms in advancing scalable and precise microbial bioprocessing

Microbial bioprocessing is a key technology for the production of a wide range of biomolecules, including proteins, enzymes, antibiotics, and other bioactive compounds. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in using microfluidic platforms for bioprocessing, due to the ability to precisely control and manipulate fluids at the microscale. Microfluidics offers a transformative platform for the manufacturing of biomolecules intended for clinical applications by addressing key technical challenges in scalability, precision, reproducibility, and the ability to study complex biological systems. In this review, various methods used to fabricate microfluidic platforms and the current state-of-the-art in the synthesis/production of biopharmaceuticals, polymers, bioactive compounds, and real-time monitoring in microscale bioprocesses are discussed. Additionally, the future trends and directions are highlighted. Overall, we envisage the utilization of microfluidic platforms to advance the field of microbial bioprocessing and applications in the biomedical field.