Challenges of analytical microsystems

Miniaturization in analytical chemistry is a clear trend, and has been the subject of an important number of research works. In this article, we present a general overview of the potential of analytical microsystems. Although clear advantages can be pointed out, we offer a critical evaluation based on highlighting strengths and weaknesses. Thinking about the future use of the current analytical microsystems in routine and control analytical laboratories, we discuss the issues involved in the analytical process and the different steps involved in chemical analyses. We identify challenges in applying analytical microsystems to these uses.