From passive to active sorting in microfluidics: A review

Abstract Achieving high-efficiency sorting of microfluidics (such as cells, particles, droplets, etc.) has great significance in the fields of biology, chemistry, medical treatment, material synthesis, and drug development. This paper introduces the microfluidics sorting methods in recent years. The current research status and progress can be divided into the active sorting system and passive sorting system according to whether there is an external field. They can control the microfluidics by promoting more selective separation, so as to obtain higher resolution and selection rate. In this paper, the above methods are analyzed and discussed, and the future microfluidic sorting is prospected.