Magnetic Digital microfluidics (DMF), which enables the manipulation of droplets containing different types of samples and reagents by permanent magnets or electromagnet arrays, has been used as a promising platform technology for bioanalytical and preparative assays. This is due to its unique advantages such as simple and “power free” operation, easy assembly, great compatibility with auto control systems, and dual functionality of magnetic particles (actuation and target attachment). Over the past decades, magnetic DMF technique has gained a widespread attention in many fields such as sample-to-answer molecular diagnostics, immunoassays, cell assays, on-demand chemical synthesis, and single-cell manipulation. In the first part of this review, we summarised features of magnetic DMF. Then, we introduced the actuation mechanisms and fabrication of magnetic DMF. Furthermore, we discussed five main applications of magnetic DMF, namely drug screening, protein assays, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), cell manipulation, and chemical analysis and synthesis. In the last part of the review, current challenges and limitations with magnetic DMF technique were discussed, such as biocompatibility, automation of microdroplet control systems, and microdroplet evaporation, with an eye on towards future development.

中文翻译：

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磁性数字微流体平台的最新进展

磁性数字微流体 (DMF) 能够通过永磁体或电磁体阵列操纵含有不同类型样品和试剂的液滴，已被用作生物分析和制备分析的有前途的平台技术。这是由于其独特的优势，例如简单和“无动力”操作、易于组装、与自动控制系统的良好兼容性以及磁性粒子的双重功能（驱动和目标附着）。在过去的几十年里，磁性 DMF 技术在许多领域得到了广泛的关注，例如样本到答案的分子诊断、免疫测定、细胞测定、按需化学合成和单细胞操作。在本综述的第一部分，我们总结了磁性 DMF 的特点。然后，我们介绍了磁性 DMF 的驱动机制和制造。此外，我们讨论了磁性 DMF 的五个主要应用，即药物筛选、蛋白质测定、聚合酶链反应 (PCR)、细胞操作以及化学分析和合成。在评论的最后一部分，讨论了磁性 DMF 技术当前的挑战和局限性，例如生物相容性、微滴控制系统的自动化和微滴蒸发，着眼于未来的发展。