Table of Contents
- Executive Summary: Jetting Injection Tech in Microfluidics 2025
- Technology Overview: How Jetting Injection Works in Microfluidic Devices
- Key Industry Players and Official Innovations
- Market Size & Growth Forecasts Through 2030
- Emerging Applications: From Biomedical to Industrial Uses
- Competitive Landscape: Partnerships, Mergers, and Strategic Moves
- Technological Challenges and Breakthroughs
- Regulatory Landscape and Industry Standards (2025 Update)
- Investment Trends and Funding Hotspots
- Future Outlook: Game-Changing Trends and Predictions to 2030
- Sources & References
Executive Summary: Jetting Injection Tech in Microfluidics 2025
Jetting injection technology is rapidly transforming the landscape of microfluidic device manufacturing and application as we enter 2025. This technology, which precisely dispenses small droplets of reagents or biomaterials without direct contact, delivers significant advantages in speed, scalability, and material compatibility over traditional pipetting or molding approaches. In the current year, leading manufacturers and biotechnology firms are accelerating the integration of jetting injection systems into both research and commercial microfluidic platforms, responding to the growing demand for high-throughput, reliable, and miniaturized assays in diagnostics, life sciences, and point-of-care testing.
Companies specializing in non-contact fluid dispensing, such as Nordson Corporation and MicroFab Technologies Inc., are continuously refining their jetting systems to achieve picoliter to nanoliter droplet precision, improved throughput, and compatibility with a broader range of biological and chemical substances. As of 2025, these advances have enabled the mass production of microfluidic chips with complex channel architectures and functional coatings, supporting multiplexed diagnostics and highly parallelized screening applications. Notably, Dolomite Microfluidics has expanded its portfolio to include automated droplet generators and jetting-based reagent loading modules, catering to the rapidly growing sector of personalized medicine and single-cell analysis.
Market adoption is being further fueled by the validation of jetting injection for quality-critical applications, such as next-generation sequencing (NGS) sample preparation and point-of-care infectious disease assays. For example, Rain Bio is leveraging high-throughput jetting to streamline reagent loading in their digital microfluidic platforms, directly impacting scalability and reproducibility in clinical diagnostics. Additionally, collaborations between jetting technology providers and microfluidic device assemblers are shortening development cycles and reducing costs, as evidenced by partnerships announced in 2024-2025.
Looking forward, the outlook for jetting injection technology in microfluidics remains highly positive through the next several years. Advances in nozzle design, integration with robotics, and real-time process monitoring are expected to drive further improvements in accuracy and automation. With ongoing investments from device manufacturers and end-users in the biomedical and analytical sectors, jetting injection is poised to become a standard enabling technology for next-generation microfluidic products by the late 2020s. The continued evolution of this technology will be instrumental in meeting the increasing demands for rapid, flexible, and scalable solutions in diagnostics, drug discovery, and environmental monitoring.
Technology Overview: How Jetting Injection Works in Microfluidic Devices
Jetting injection technology is rapidly emerging as a pivotal method for dispensing and manipulating fluids in the fabrication and operation of microfluidic devices. Unlike traditional injection molding or pressure-driven dispensing, jetting injection employs rapidly pulsed, non-contact droplets ejected from a nozzle, enabling precise, programmable deposition of picoliter to nanoliter volumes. This approach is uniquely suited for the intricate geometries and small volumes inherent to microfluidic circuits and lab-on-a-chip systems.
The core of jetting injection relies on piezoelectric or thermal actuation. In piezoelectric systems, a voltage pulse deforms a crystal, generating a pressure wave that expels a droplet from a micro-nozzle. Thermal jetting, on the other hand, utilizes localized heating to rapidly vaporize a small portion of the fluid, producing a bubble that forces a droplet out. These mechanisms allow for high-frequency operation—often tens of thousands of droplets per second—and sub-millimeter placement accuracy. Companies like MicroFab Technologies Inc. have commercialized jetting systems capable of dispensing biological fluids, solvents, and adhesives with exceptional control, supporting both research and industrial-scale applications.
In microfluidic device manufacturing, jetting injection is increasingly used to deposit structure-forming materials (such as UV-curable resins) directly onto substrates, enabling rapid prototyping and customization. For example, Microdrop Technologies GmbH offers solutions for dispensing precise droplets into microchannels or wells, facilitating the parallelization of assays and integration of functional components. Jetting can also be used for reagent loading, sample injection, or the selective application of surface treatments and biological agents, as demonstrated by ongoing collaborations between jetting system vendors and microfluidics developers.
A notable trend in 2025 is the integration of jetting heads into automated assembly platforms, allowing continuous, scalable production of microfluidic cartridges for diagnostics and point-of-care testing. This is being pursued by several leading contract manufacturing organizations, such as TE Connectivity, who are incorporating jetting modules into their microfluidic assembly lines to improve throughput while minimizing material waste.
Looking to the next few years, advances in nozzle design, multi-material jetting, and inline vision-based quality control are expected to further enhance the flexibility and reliability of jetting injection for microfluidics. Researchers and manufacturers anticipate broader adoption in personalized medicine, environmental monitoring, and synthetic biology, as jetting systems become more accessible and tailored to microfluidic device development and production.
Key Industry Players and Official Innovations
The jetting injection technology landscape for microfluidic devices is rapidly evolving, driven by the demand for high-precision, high-throughput, and cost-effective manufacturing solutions in biomedical and chemical analysis applications. In 2025, several key industry players are spearheading technological advancements and commercial deployment, with a focus on improving accuracy, scalability, and integration capabilities.
One of the leading innovators is Nordson Corporation, whose EFD division specializes in non-contact, piezoelectric jetting valves tailored for microfluidic fabrication. Their jetting systems enable the precise dispensing of adhesives, reagents, and other fluids at picoliter to nanoliter volumes, supporting the miniaturization of lab-on-a-chip devices and biosensors. In 2025, Nordson is expected to further enhance the integration of real-time monitoring and closed-loop feedback systems, increasing yield and process reliability.
Another notable player is microSystems, a German manufacturer with expertise in injection molding and micro-jetting for polymer-based microfluidic chips. They have recently introduced hybrid manufacturing approaches combining jetting with traditional molding, enabling rapid prototyping and scalable production of complex microfluidic architectures. Their 2024-2025 roadmap includes collaborative projects with European biomedical companies to accelerate the commercialization of next-generation diagnostics.
In the United States, Stratasys is leveraging its PolyJet 3D printing platform to facilitate the direct jetting of functional materials for microfluidic device fabrication. The company’s advancements in multi-material jetting are enabling the seamless integration of channels, valves, and sensing elements in a single build process—a significant step toward fully integrated lab-on-chip solutions. Stratasys’ partnerships with academic research centers in 2025 are expected to drive further innovation in personalized medicine and point-of-care testing.
On the materials front, Dow is collaborating with microfluidics manufacturers to develop novel jettable silicones and epoxies optimized for micro-scale dispensing. These materials aim to address challenges related to fluid compatibility and device longevity, particularly in pharmaceutical screening and environmental monitoring applications.
Looking forward, industry observers anticipate that ongoing investments in automated quality control, AI-driven process optimization, and cross-industry collaborations will advance jetting injection technology. From 2025 onward, the sector is poised for growth as device makers seek faster iteration cycles, increased device complexity, and expanded use cases in diagnostics, drug discovery, and wearable biosensors.
Market Size & Growth Forecasts Through 2030
Jetting injection technology, a non-contact, high-precision dispensing approach, is rapidly gaining traction within the microfluidic devices market. As of 2025, this segment is experiencing heightened demand, driven by the expanding use of microfluidics in diagnostics, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical research. The superior accuracy, speed, and scalability of jetting injection compared to traditional methods are key factors fueling its adoption.
Industry leaders in dispensing systems, such as Nordson Corporation and Musashi Engineering, Inc., have reported increasing sales of jetting dispensers tailored for microfluidic manufacturing. These systems allow for the controlled deposition of picoliter- to nanoliter-scale droplets, crucial for the miniaturization and performance consistency required in microfluidics. Notably, Nordson Corporation highlights applications in the life sciences and diagnostics sectors as primary growth areas, aligning with broader healthcare trends post-pandemic.
The market size for jetting injection technology in microfluidic device production is projected to grow at a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2030. While precise figures vary among suppliers, industry inputs suggest annual growth rates in the high single digits to low double digits. For example, Musashi Engineering, Inc. anticipates continued double-digit growth in demand for its jetting systems, driven by increasing volumes in diagnostics and drug discovery applications.
- Diagnostics: The surge in point-of-care and molecular diagnostic devices, which rely on precise reagent handling, underpins market expansion. Jetting technology enables the rapid, contamination-free dispensing required for these applications (Nordson Corporation).
- Personalized Medicine: Custom-tailored microfluidic chips, needed for patient-specific assays, benefit from jetting’s programmable and highly reproducible fluid deposition (Musashi Engineering, Inc.).
- Automated High-Throughput Manufacturing: Leading equipment manufacturers are integrating jetting systems into automated lines, supporting both scalability and cost-efficiency (Nordson Corporation).
Looking ahead to 2030, the outlook for jetting injection technology in microfluidic device manufacturing remains highly optimistic. Ongoing innovations—such as multi-nozzle systems, improved jetting materials compatibility, and integration with Industry 4.0 platforms—are expected to further accelerate market growth and adoption rates across life sciences, environmental monitoring, and industrial applications.
Emerging Applications: From Biomedical to Industrial Uses
Jetting injection technology is rapidly advancing the versatility and efficiency of microfluidic device fabrication and operation. Unlike traditional channel filling or manual pipetting, jetting enables precise, contactless, and high-throughput fluid delivery—qualities increasingly demanded in both biomedical and industrial microfluidics applications. In 2025, the landscape is marked by the integration of piezoelectric, thermal, and pneumatic jetting methods directly into the workflows of device manufacturers and end users.
In biomedical domains, the adoption of jetting injection is particularly pronounced in point-of-care diagnostics and organ-on-chip platforms. Companies such as Dolomite Microfluidics are actively developing systems that utilize piezo-driven jetting to load reagents with sub-nanoliter precision into complex microchannel networks. This reduces reagent waste and enables the miniaturization of assays, a crucial advantage for cost-sensitive and multiplexed diagnostic solutions. Moreover, Standard BioTools Inc. (formerly Fluidigm) reports ongoing improvements in their microfluidic chip loading protocols, leveraging non-contact jetting to increase assay repeatability and reduce cross-contamination in single-cell genomics workflows.
Industrial applications are simultaneously accelerating. In 2025, electronics manufacturers are integrating microfluidic jetting for precise dispensing of conductive inks and dielectrics during printed circuit board (PCB) fabrication. Musashi Engineering, Inc. has released high-speed jetting dispensers optimized for microfluidic devices, allowing manufacturers to automate the deposition of adhesives, encapsulants, and functional fluids in volumes down to the picoliter range. This capability is also being explored for rapid prototyping and low- to mid-volume production runs, enabling quick design iterations and customization.
Looking forward, the next few years are expected to see further convergence between microfluidic jetting and machine vision, artificial intelligence, and robotics. Automated jetting platforms from Nordson Corporation are already employing real-time feedback to dynamically adjust droplet size and placement, opening pathways for closed-loop process control in both research and manufacturing environments. Additionally, as sustainability concerns grow, developments in solvent-free and biocompatible jetting fluids are anticipated, potentially driven by partnerships between device makers and specialty chemical suppliers.
Overall, the outlook for jetting injection technology in microfluidics is one of robust growth and diversification. As precision, speed, and reliability continue to improve, and as integration with automation technologies deepens, jetting injection is positioned to become a defining enabler in both established and emerging microfluidic applications by the late 2020s.
Competitive Landscape: Partnerships, Mergers, and Strategic Moves
The competitive landscape for jetting injection technology in microfluidic device fabrication is rapidly evolving in 2025, driven by increasing demand for high-throughput, scalable, and precise liquid handling solutions in diagnostics, drug discovery, and life sciences. Industry leaders and innovative startups are actively engaging in partnerships, mergers, and strategic moves to consolidate their market positions and accelerate technology adoption.
A prominent example is the collaboration between Stratasys and several microfluidics specialists to co-develop advanced inkjet-based 3D printing platforms tailored for microfluidic device prototyping and production. This alliance aims to leverage Stratasys’s expertise in inkjet deposition and polymer science with domain-specific knowledge on microchannel design and integration, enabling rapid customization and manufacturing of lab-on-a-chip devices.
Another significant player, Dolomite Microfluidics, has expanded its strategic partnerships in 2024 and 2025, working closely with reagent and consumable manufacturers to streamline the supply chain for droplet generation and high-throughput screening systems. Dolomite’s Micro Droplet Systems, utilizing piezoelectric jetting, have seen growing adoption in pharmaceutical and diagnostics sectors, prompting the company to invest in joint-ventures and co-marketing initiatives with leading biotech suppliers.
Recently, HP Inc. has intensified its efforts in the microfluidics realm by leveraging its proprietary thermal inkjet technology for biological dispensing. In early 2025, HP announced a strategic partnership with a major European life sciences instrumentation firm to integrate HP’s precision jetting modules into commercial microfluidic analyzers. The collaboration will bring HP’s scalable printing and dispensing platforms to a broader biomedical market, enhancing throughput and reducing reagent costs for clinical labs.
Meanwhile, GE Healthcare has deepened its investment in microfluidic jetting through targeted acquisitions of startups specializing in nano-liter dispensing and cell manipulation. These moves are designed to bolster GE’s portfolio in cell therapy manufacturing and point-of-care diagnostics, areas where microfluidic jetting offers unique advantages for miniaturization and automation.
Looking forward, the competitive landscape is anticipated to see further consolidation as established instrumentation firms seek to vertically integrate jetting technologies and as digital health companies pursue cross-sector alliances to embed microfluidic jetting in next-generation diagnostic platforms. With ongoing advancements in materials, nozzle design, and software-driven fluid control, companies with robust intellectual property and strategic partnerships will likely dominate the jetting injection space for microfluidic devices through the late 2020s.
Technological Challenges and Breakthroughs
Jetting injection technology has emerged as a transformative approach in the fabrication and operation of microfluidic devices, enabling non-contact, high-precision fluid delivery essential for miniaturized analytical systems. However, the sector faces several technological challenges as it strives for broader adoption and enhanced performance in 2025 and beyond.
One of the primary challenges is achieving consistent droplet generation at the sub-nanoliter scale, which is critical for applications such as digital PCR and single-cell analysis. Issues related to droplet size variability, formation speed, and fluid viscosity still constrain throughput and reproducibility. Manufacturers are actively addressing these hurdles. For example, Stratasys has introduced advanced print-head architectures and software algorithms to better control droplet placement and volume, targeting medical and life science microfluidics.
Another key challenge is managing material compatibility. Many jetting systems must handle a wide range of biological samples and reagents, some of which are viscous or contain particulates that risk clogging nozzles. Companies such as MicroFab Technologies are developing jetting heads with anti-clogging features and compatibility with diverse biofluids, including proteins, enzymes, and cells. Ongoing research focuses on new materials for nozzle fabrication and surface coatings that reduce fouling and enable extended operation.
Thermal management is also an area of concern. High-frequency jetting can generate heat that affects sensitive biological samples and device substrates. Recent developments by HP in thermal inkjet technology include improved thermal dissipation methods and lower-energy pulse systems, helping to preserve analyte integrity and reduce device wear.
On the integration front, aligning jetting technology with microfluidic chip manufacturing processes—often based on polymers or glass—requires precise registration and bonding. Dolomite Microfluidics is pioneering integrated jetting modules that fit directly into microfluidic workflows, promoting more automated and scalable device assembly.
Looking ahead, advances in machine learning and real-time sensing are expected to further boost jetting precision and quality control. Companies are beginning to deploy AI-driven feedback loops to monitor droplet formation and correct deviations on the fly.
Overall, 2025 is likely to see further convergence between jetting hardware, smart sensing, and novel materials, driving more robust and versatile microfluidic device fabrication. The outlook suggests that as these key technical challenges are overcome, jetting injection will become the method of choice for next-generation lab-on-a-chip solutions.
Regulatory Landscape and Industry Standards (2025 Update)
The regulatory framework and industry standards for jetting injection technology in microfluidic devices have evolved rapidly in 2025, reflecting both the increasing adoption of these platforms in diagnostics, life sciences, and industrial applications, and the need for robust oversight to ensure device performance and safety. Regulatory agencies in major markets—including the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Medicines Agency (EMA), and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)—have updated or are in the process of updating guidelines to address the unique properties and requirements associated with jetting-based microfluidic fabrication and use.
In the United States, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has expanded its guidance for the premarket review of microfluidic-based diagnostic devices to explicitly include jetting injection methods. As of early 2025, manufacturers must provide detailed validation data on jetting uniformity, droplet size control, and material compatibility, recognizing the precision offered by jetting technologies but also the potential for variability if poorly controlled. Parallel to this, the FDA is piloting a streamlined 510(k) submission pathway for point-of-care microfluidic devices manufactured using jetting injection, aiming to accelerate time-to-market while maintaining rigorous safety checks.
- In Europe, the European Medicines Agency has harmonized standards with ISO 13485:2023, emphasizing traceability of jetting process parameters and in-process monitoring for devices destined for clinical or diagnostic use. The Medical Device Regulation (MDR) now specifically references additive and jetting-based manufacturing as critical technologies requiring enhanced process documentation.
- The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has proposed new technical specifications for microfluidics (ISO/TS 22916), with sections addressing jetting injection. These cover acceptable ranges for droplet volume, spatial resolution, and reproducibility, as well as guidelines for the validation of cleaning and sterilization protocols for jetting-equipped systems.
Industry consortia such as SEMI are also collaborating with device manufacturers to develop best practices for quality control and batch release of jetting-fabricated microfluidic chips, with the goal of reducing inter-batch variability and supporting regulatory compliance. Early adopters, including companies like Dolomite Microfluidics, are actively participating in these standard-setting efforts, providing real-world data to inform regulatory requirements and technical specifications.
Looking ahead, stakeholders anticipate further convergence of global standards, particularly as jetting injection enables more complex, multi-material microfluidic devices. Regulatory bodies are expected to continue updating their frameworks to keep pace with innovation, focusing on process transparency, digital traceability, and end-to-end quality management. The result will be a more predictable path to approval for manufacturers and greater confidence for end-users in the performance and safety of jetting-based microfluidic platforms.
Investment Trends and Funding Hotspots
Investment in jetting injection technology for microfluidic devices is accelerating as the demand for high-throughput, precise, and scalable manufacturing of microfluidic components continues to grow. In 2025 and the coming years, the sector is witnessing an influx of funding from both established players in the printing and dispensing sector as well as specialized microfluidics startups. This trend is primarily driven by the rapid expansion of point-of-care diagnostics, pharmaceutical R&D, and personalized medicine, all of which increasingly rely on advanced microfluidic devices.
Leading equipment manufacturers such as Nordson Corporation and Musashi Engineering, Inc. have ramped up investment in jetting valve technology, enabling non-contact, high-speed dispensing of picoliter to nanoliter volumes essential for microfluidic fabrication. These companies are actively expanding their R&D capacities and forming collaborations with microfluidics device manufacturers, reflecting significant capital allocation towards this technology.
Strategic investments are also being observed in the development of 3D printing platforms adapted for microfluidics. Stratasys, a leader in additive manufacturing, has announced partnerships with academic institutions and biotech companies to refine jetting-based printing processes for fabricating complex microfluidic architectures, signaling a move toward integrated solutions that combine jetting injection with rapid prototyping.
Regionally, North America and Europe remain the dominant investment hotspots, supported by robust innovation ecosystems and government-backed funding initiatives. However, Asia-Pacific—particularly Japan and South Korea—is emerging as a dynamic market, with companies like Musashi Engineering, Inc. and Samsung Electronics channeling resources into precision dispensing and lab-on-chip technologies. These investments are further catalyzed by the growing demand for compact diagnostic devices and increased manufacturing automation.
Venture capital is also flowing into startups and scale-ups focused on next-generation jetting nozzles and dispensing systems. For instance, microLIQUID and Dolomite Microfluidics are attracting funding for proprietary jetting technologies tailored to cell handling, reagent mixing, and droplet generation within microfluidic chips.
Looking ahead, investment is expected to intensify in response to surging demand for decentralized diagnostics and biomanufacturing. As the market matures, collaborative R&D initiatives and public-private partnerships will likely play a pivotal role in driving innovation and scaling up jetting injection technology for microfluidic devices globally.
Future Outlook: Game-Changing Trends and Predictions to 2030
From 2025 onward, jetting injection technology for microfluidic devices is expected to undergo substantial advancements, driven by the convergence of manufacturing automation, material innovation, and the demand for high-throughput, precision fluid handling. As sectors such as diagnostics, drug discovery, and personalized medicine increasingly rely on microfluidics, the speed and reliability of jetting injection methods are poised to play a central role in scaling up production and enabling new applications.
Key players like Nordson Corporation and Musashi Engineering, Inc. are at the forefront of advancing jetting dispensers tailored for microfluidic device fabrication. These systems enable non-contact, high-speed deposition of adhesives, reagents, and biological samples with microliter to nanoliter precision, crucial for next-generation lab-on-a-chip platforms. The ongoing refinement of piezoelectric and thermal inkjet actuators is expected to deliver greater throughput and consistency, while minimizing cross-contamination risks—a critical requirement for biomedical applications.
In 2025 and over the next several years, integration of artificial intelligence and machine vision into jetting systems is anticipated to optimize droplet size, placement, and deposition patterns in real-time. Companies such as Nordson Corporation have already begun to implement intelligent dispensing solutions, and further automation is likely to reduce human error and improve manufacturing yields.
Another trend is the adoption of advanced polymeric and hybrid materials that are compatible with jetting processes. Suppliers like Dow are developing specialty fluids and adhesives engineered for microfluidic device assembly, supporting both device miniaturization and chemical compatibility. This evolution is expected to lower per-unit costs and expand the functional range of microfluidic platforms.
Looking toward 2030, the jetting injection landscape will likely see increased modularity, enabling flexible production lines that can rapidly adapt to changing device geometries or fluid requirements. Collaborative efforts between equipment manufacturers and end-users, such as those facilitated by Microfluidics Association, are anticipated to standardize interfaces and protocols, further accelerating technology adoption.
In summary, the next five years should usher in smarter, more versatile, and scalable jetting injection solutions, cementing their role as a backbone technology for microfluidic device innovation and commercialization.
Sources & References
- MicroFab Technologies Inc.
- Dolomite Microfluidics
- Rain Bio
- Stratasys
- Musashi Engineering, Inc.
- GE Healthcare
- European Medicines Agency
- International Organization for Standardization
- Musashi Engineering, Inc.
- Microfluidics Association