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  • Review Article
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Active-matrix digital microfluidics for high-throughput, precise droplet handling

Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering volume 3, pages 46–60 (2026)Cite this article

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Abstract

Active-matrix digital microfluidics (AM-DMF) leverages semiconductor-derived electrode arrays to dynamically control thousands of micrometre-scale droplets and has emerged as a transformative platform for high-throughput and precise manipulation of liquid samples. This technology enables various programmable operations, such as droplet generation, transport, mixing and dilution, to be performed with unparalleled accuracy and, thereby, overcomes several limitations of conventional microchannel and passive-matrix digital microfluidics. This Review provides a critical analysis of the design principles and transformative potential of AM-DMF, focusing on its potential biomedical applications in genomics, single-cell analysis and drug discovery. Important contributions of artificial intelligence that increase the efficiency and reliability of complex AM-DMF workflows are also discussed. Despite this considerable progress, further innovation is needed to overcome ongoing challenges such as biofouling, reagent selectivity and electrode stability. This Review outlines future directions for AM-DMF as a versatile tool in life sciences and showcases its role in enabling next-generation droplet manipulation and workflow automation.

Key points

  • The transition from passive-matrix (PM) to active-matrix (AM) digital microfluidics (DMF) chip configurations notably enhances scalability, enabling both efficient and precise control of large-scale droplet arrays.

  • AM-DMF primarily uses various thin-film transistor types, printed circuit board or complementary metal oxide semiconductor processes; its driving circuits have undergone continuous evolution to enable precise droplet driving and sensing.

  • The evolution of DMF architectures from PM (DMF 1.0) through AM (DMF 2.0), gate-on-array (DMF 2.5) and integrated circuit-driven (DMF 3.0) iterations has been a key driver in advancing the commercialization of this technology.

  • Integration with multifunctional modules and artificial intelligence renders AM-DMF a promising platform for automated, multifunctional workflows.

  • AM-DMF is a transformative platform for high-throughput applications such as genomics, single-cell analysis and drug discovery.

  • Ongoing challenges such as biofouling, reagent compatibility and electrode stability remain to be addressed to promote the widespread adoption and commercialization of AM-DMF.

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Fig. 1: Digital microfluidics device architectures.
Fig. 2: Technological fundamentals of active-matrix digital microfluidics.
Fig. 3: Roadmap of active-matrix digital microfluidics.
Fig. 4: Future applications and potential prospects for active-matrix digital microfluidics.

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Acknowledgements

The research of the authors was supported by the China Academy of Engineering, Institute of Land Cooperation Consulting Project 2025-DFZD-39.

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  1. These authors contributed equally: Dongping Wang, Shengzhe Jiang.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Information Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, China

    Dongping Wang, Shengzhe Jiang, Jun Yu & Arokia Nathan

  2. CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-Medical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China

    Hanbin Ma

  3. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China

    Hanbin Ma

  4. Darwin College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Arokia Nathan

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Contributions

All authors contributed substantially to discussions of the article content. H.M. and J.Y. researched data for the article, D.W. and S.J. wrote the first draft, and A.N., D.W., H.M. and J.Y. reviewed and/or edited the manuscript before submission.

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Correspondence to Hanbin Ma, Jun Yu or Arokia Nathan.

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Wang, D., Jiang, S., Ma, H. et al. Active-matrix digital microfluidics for high-throughput, precise droplet handling. Nat Rev Electr Eng 3, 46–60 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44287-025-00230-1

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