Green-tape ceramics. New technological approach for integrating electronics and fluidics in microsystems

The miniaturization of analytical systems for different applications is currently a very active field of research. The inherent advantages of micro total analysis systems (μTASs) are well known. Although the fluidic platforms and the development of suitable miniaturized detection systems have been studied extensively, the integration in a single substrate of the electronics that is needed to manage the whole system using a single technology is still a sizeable challenge.In this overview, we discuss the role of the low-temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) as a potential alternative for miniaturizing analytical systems, since a single technology can easily combine fluidics and electronics to produce a number of novel chemical microanalyzers.