Technological advancement and current standing of microfluidic chip based devices for targeted analysis of biomarkers

[Display omitted] •Microfluidics technology overcome major limitations of biomarker analysis.•Upgradation in microfluidic chip-based system increases diagnostic reliability.•On-chip immobilization chemistry allows customization of biomarker extraction.•Miniaturisation improves sensitivity of clinically relevant biomarker analysis. Scientists often struggle to develop reliable methods for accurate quantification of clinically relevant biomarkers due to the inherent complexity of biological matrices. Introduction of microfluidics technology to the field of biomarker quantitation is showing the potential to overcome major associated limitations. Successful application of microfluidic chip based devices in the bioanalytical sample preparation proved the potential of this technology in the field. A critical discussion on the present standing and technological advancement in microfluidic chip based devices for biomarker quantification has been included in this review. This review also contains discussion on various advanced on-chip sample preparation techniques and upgradation in microfluidic chip-integrated systems for biomarker detection and quantitation. In addition, important progress in matrix-compatible bio-materials for fabricating microfluidic chips, strategies for ligand immobilization for biomarkers detection has been explained. The hurdles of traditionally available sample preparation techniques and the potential of microfluidic-based devices to overcome such limitations have also been critically debated. The discussion embedded in this review bears significant novelty in both the device and application aspects. The miniaturization, physical advancements, high impact applications, and potential of microfluidic chip based devices in the biomarker analysis have been explained.