Advances in microfluidic systems for the delivery of nutraceutical ingredients

Most existing approaches for nutraceutical delivery are associated with limitations in terms of release and stability as active molecules must pass different biological barriers. Reports have documented the several chemical changes these molecules undergo in the gastrointestinal tract, often resulting in the transport of only negligible concentrations to the target site. There are multiple associated challenges; hence, effective nutraceutical delivery approaches have emerged as a matter of immense research and commercial interest. This review focuses on the fundamentals and applications of microfluidic systems for nutraceutical delivery, also providing insights on emerging concepts and research requirements. The work also presents the basics of microfluidics and liquid conduction in microchannels, microfabrication techniques for microfluidic platforms, and an outline of contemporary exploration on the development of microparticles, liposomes, and nanosuspensions. Comprehensive portrayals of different microfluidic nutraceutical delivery frameworks that have critically progressed in the zone of controlled nutraceutical conveyance such as micro-reservoir systems have been examined. Moreover, an emphasis on advancing smart drug delivery systems with consolidated detecting and drug conveyance components is provided. Also, the utilization of microfluidic technology in the detection of nutritional biomarkers which correlates with the bioefficacy of bioactive compounds has been highlighted. Aspects that may be further significantly investigated in the framework of the food sector, the limitations that confine the utilization of this innovation on a large scale, and prospects have been presented. •Microfluidic systems have promising range of applications in the food industry.•With precise control, they can be used for fabricating nutraceutical delivery systems.•Flow conditions and fabrication approaches require case-specific optimization.•Details on potential as micro reservoirs, for smart delivery and in nutritional biomarkers detection.•Research needs remain, primarily in terms of scale-up for commercial applications.