Microfluidic technology in agrochemical development: Advances in pesticide synthesis, nanopesticide preparation, and on-chip sensing

Microfluidic technology has emerged as a powerful enabling platform in agrochemical science, offering precise manipulation of minute fluid volumes coupled with enhanced mass and heat transfer efficiency, significantly reduced reagent consumption, and high degrees of system integration. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in the application of microfluidics to pesticide science, organized around three core domains: (i) continuous-flow synthesis, (ii) nanopesticide preparation, and (iii) on-chip detection of pesticide residues. In continuous-flow synthesis, microreactors facilitate safer, more controllable, and scalable production of herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides, particularly for hazardous transformations such as nitration, diazotization, and catalytic hydrogenation, achieving superior reaction selectivity and reproducibility. In nanopesticide engineering, microfluidic platforms offer exceptional control over particle size, size distribution, and structural uniformity; this translates into markedly improved colloidal stability, programmable release kinetics, and enhanced biocompatibility relative to conventional bulk-phase methods. For pesticide residue analysis, lab-on-a-chip systems integrated with electrochemical, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), paper-based, 3D-printed, or smartphone-readout modules enable rapid, on-site, and sensitive detection of multiple pesticide classes at trace levels. By bridging synthetic chemistry, formulation engineering, and analytical detection, microfluidics establishes a robust, scalable, and environmentally responsive technological foundation for next-generation crop protection. This review highlights the critical role of microfluidics in addressing safety, environmental, and efficiency challenges in pesticide development, while also outlining promising pathways toward intelligent, green, and digitally enabled agrochemicals.