Microfluidic Technologies for Nanomaterial Engineering, Biological Interactions, and Biomedical Applications

Microfluidic and nanofluidic technologies have emerged as transformative tools for the precise engineering and evaluation of advanced nanoscale biomaterials. By leveraging unique fluid dynamics, precise mixing kinetics, and sub-millimetre manipulation capabilities, these microengineered systems offer unprecedented control over nanoparticle size, morphology, and surface chemistry. This directly addresses the persistent bottlenecks of polydispersity, batch-to-batch variation, and low functionalization efficiency that have historically constrained the translation of advanced nanomaterials into biomedical fields.Recent advances have highlighted the power of microfluidic technologies to template, assemble, and formulate smart, stimuli-responsive nanocarriers, functional nanostructured surfaces, and nanobiosensors. Beyond fabrication, microfluidic devices — including organ-on-chip and nanofluidic platforms — provide biomimetic environments to study the technological and biological impact of nanoscale systems at cellular and tissue interfaces. However, advancing these engineered nanostructures requires overcoming challenges in scalable manufacturing, ensuring reproducibility under physiological flow, and establishing robust safety-by-design and regulatory frameworks across diverse material classes.This Research Topic aims to highlight emerging microfluidic strategies that bridge nanomaterial engineering, biological validation, and nano-enabled biomedical applications such as nanodiagnostics, intelligent drug delivery, and biosensing. By focusing on the interface of microengineering and nanobiotechnology, we seek to foster interdisciplinary discussion that draws on engineering, chemistry, life sciences, and materials science to advance next-generation nanobiomedical devices. In doing so, the collection contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).To ensure alignment with the Nanobiotechnology section, submitted manuscripts must center on nano/particle design, fabrication, characterization, or particle-dependent effects (e.g., size, morphology, synthesis conditions) governed by microfluidic conditions. Studies addressing biomedical outcomes must clearly link those outcomes to nanoscale design parameters; work focused solely on downstream therapeutic or clinical application without reference to nanoscale design falls outside the scope. In line with section policy, clinical trials, bibliometrics, paediatric studies, infection and immunity research, brain stimulation studies, and machine-learning applications unrelated to nanoscale phenomena are not considered. We welcome original research articles, reviews, and perspectives addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:- Microfluidic synthesis and characterization of lipid, polymeric, inorganic, or hybrid nanoscale biomaterials via droplet, flow-focusing, and Dean-flow architectures- Advanced inline characterization and imaging tools for nanobiotechnology under microfluidic control- Microfluidic functionalization of smart, stimuli-responsive nanoparticles and artificial nano-bioconstructs- Functional nanostructured surfaces, nanobiosensors, and nanodiagnostic platforms enabled by microfluidic fabrication- Organ-on-chip technologies for evaluating nanomaterial–biological interactions, transport, and nanotoxicology and safety evaluation of nanodevices- Smart materials and nanofluidic confinement effects on material self-assembly and biological interaction- Scalable manufacturing strategies and translational and regulatory aspects of nanobiomedical devices, including safety-by-design Topic editors: Gunes Kibar, Ronald X Xu, A. Aslihan Gokaltun, Josep Puigmartí-Luis Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/85250/microfluidic-technologies-for-nanomaterial-engineering-biological-interactions-and-biomedical-applications