Lab on a Chip

1.0 General policy

Lab on a Chip provides a unique forum for the publication of significant and original work related to miniaturisation (on and off chips) at the micro- and nano-scale across a variety of disciplines, including chemistry, biology, bioengineering, physics, electronics, clinical/medical science, (bio)chemical engineering and materials science, which is likely to be of interest to the multidisciplinary community that the journal addresses. Critical and tutorial reviews, mini-reviews, cutting-edge primary research papers, communications and technical notes are all welcome. All manuscripts should be written such that they are accessible to scientists in all disciplines associated with the subject, across both academic and industrial sectors. All article types should highlight, in the abstract and at the end of the introduction, the novel features and explain the significance of the work and likely impact on the relevant (micro and nano) lab-on-a-chip communities.

Submissions from academic and industrial scientists involved with fundamental research, development or applications for micro- and nano-scale systems, technologies and devices in the following disciplines are sought and encouraged (Lab on a Chip also deals with off-chip systems):

• Chemical and biological micro/nanoreactors for chemical synthesis, biosynthesis, high-throughput synthesis, combinatorial chemistry, generation of hazardous chemicals at point-of-requirement, and safer synthesis
• Micro/nanofabrication technologies (in silicon, plastics, glass and other materials) including laser micro/nanofabrication, photochemistry, micro/nanophotolithography, micro/nanomachining etc.
• Monitoring in micro/nanoreactors
• Environmental monitoring/monitoring for health and security
• Micro/nanoelectronics and micro/nanorobotics
• Micro/nanomechanics and engineering in chip-based systems (MEMS and NEMS)
• Microbiotechnology and nanobiotechnology
• Polynucleotide arrays for genetic sequence analysis
• Genomics, proteomics, cellomics, DNA probes and PCR
• High-speed catalysis in miniaturised systems
• Micro/nanotechnical interfaces and interconnections
• Fluidics, fluids for micro/nanosystems, their mobilisation and control
• Medical diagnostics and screening, point-of-care clinical analyses, disease detection, drug delivery, and implantable devices
• Micro and nano total analytical systems (µTAS, nTAS), their components and applications
• Sample preparation in micro/nanostructured devices, nanoencapsulation, and nanotubes
• Micro/nanochip-based separation systems
• Micro/nanooptics and on-chip detection systems
• Micro/nanosensor systems
• Reduction of toxic wastes, and increases in efficiency, reliability and performance
• Waste minimisation (decreases in power and reagent consumption, time and cost)    

All contributions are judged on (i) originality, novelty and quality of scientific content and (ii) their contribution to advancing the theory, understanding, practice or application of miniaturisation in the subjects concerned, and (iii) appropriateness of length to content of new science. Papers reporting applications must contain a comparison with existing methods and demonstrate advantages over accepted methods before publication can be considered. Although short articles are considered, the RSC strongly discourages fragmentation of a substantial body of work into a number of short publications. Unnecessary fragmentation will be a valid reason for rejection of manuscripts.

There is no page charge for papers published in Lab on a Chip.