Towards microfluidic technology-based MALDI-MS platforms for drug discovery: a review.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Microfluidic methods have found applications in various disciplines. It has been predicted that the microfluidic technology would be useful in performing routine steps in drug discovery ranging from target identification to lead optimisation in which the number of compounds evaluated in this regard determines the success of combinatorial screening. The sheer size of the parameter space that can be explored often poses an enormous challenge. OBJECTIVE: We set out to find how close we are towards the use of integrated matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) microfluidic systems for drug discovery. METHODS: In this article we review the latest applications of microfluidic technology in the area of MALDI-MS and drug discovery. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: Our literature survey revealed microfluidic technologies-based approaches for various stages of drug discovery; however, they are in still in developmental stages. Furthermore, we speculate on how these technologies could be used in the future.