Micro and nanoparticles are not only understood as components of materials but as small functional units too. Particles can be designed for the primary transduction of physical and chemical signals and, therefore, become a valuable component in sensing systems. Due to their small size, they are particularly interesting for sensing in microfluidic systems, in microarray arrangements and in miniaturized biotechnological systems and microreactors, in general. Here, an overview of the recent development in the preparation of micro and nanoparticles for sensing purposes in microfluidics and application of particles in various microfluidic devices is presented. The concept of sensor particles is particularly useful for combining a direct contact between cells, biomolecules and media with a contactless optical readout. In addition to the construction and synthesis of micro and nanoparticles with transducer functions, examples of chemical and biological applications are reported.

Microfluidic techniques allow for the tailored construction of specific microparticles, which are becoming increasingly interesting and relevant. Here, using a microfluidic hole-plate-device and thermal-initiated free radical polymerization, submicrometer polymer particles with a highly textured surface were synthesized. Two types of monomers were applied: (1) methylmethacrylate (MMA) combined with crosslinkers and (2) divinylbenzene (DVB). Surface texture and morphology can be influenced by a series of parameters such as the monomer–crosslinker–solvent composition, surfactants, and additives. Generally, the most structured surfaces with the simultaneously most uniform particles were obtained in the DVB–toluene–nonionic-tensides system. In a second approach, poly-MMA (PMMA) particles were used to build aggregates with bigger polymer particles. For this purpose, tripropyleneglycolediacrylate (TPGDA) particles were synthesized in a microfluidic co-flow arrangement and polymerized by light- irradiation. Then, PMMA particles were assembled at their surface. In a third step, these composites were dispersed in an aqueous acrylamide–methylenebisacrylamide solution, which again was run through a co-flow-device and photopolymerized. As such, entities consisting of particles of three different size ranges—typically 0.7/30/600 µm—were obtained. The particles synthesized by both approaches are potentially suitable for loading with or incorporation of analytic probes or catalysts such as dyes or metals.

Hierarchical assemblies of functional polymer particles are promising due to their surface as well as physicochemical properties. However, hierarchical composites are complex and challenging to form due to the many steps necessary for integrating different components into one system. Highly structured four-level composite particles were formed in a four-step process. First of all, gold (Au) nanoparticles, poly­(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanoparticles, and poly­(tripropylene glycol diacrylate) (poly-TPGDA) microparticles were individually synthesized. By applying microfluidic techniques, polymer nano- and microparticles were formed with tunable size and surface properties. Afterwards, the negatively charged gold nanoparticles and PMMA particles functionalized with a positively charged surface were mixed to form Au/PMMA assemblies. The Au/PMMA composites were mixed and incubated with poly-TPGDA microparticles to form ternary Au/PMMA/poly-TPGDA assemblies. For the formation of composite-containing microparticles, Au/PMMA/poly-TPGDA composites were dispersed in an aqueous acrylamide–methylenebisacrylamide solution. Monomer droplets were formed in a co-flow microfluidic device and photopolymerized by UV light. In this way, hierarchically structured four-level composites consisting of four different size ranges0.025/0.8/30/1000 μmwere obtained. By functionalizing polymer nano- and microparticles with different fluorescent dyes, it was possible to visualize the same composite particle under two different excitation modes (λex = 395–440 and λex = 510–560 nm). The Au/PMMA/poly-TPGDA composite-embedded polyacrylamide microparticles can be potentially used as a model for the creation of composite particles for sensing, catalysis, multilabeling, and biomedical applications.

Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is one of the most powerful analytical techniques for the identification of molecules. The substrate, on which SERS is dependent, contains regions of nanoscale gaps (hotspots) that hold the ability to concentrate incident electromagnetic fields and effectively amplify vibrational scattering signals of adsorbed analytes. While surface plasmon resonance from metal nanostructures is a central focus for the SERS effect, the support of polymers can be significantly advantageous to provide larger exposure of structured metal surfaces for efficient interactions with analytes. Characteristics of the polymer particles such as softness, flexibility, swellability, porosity, optical transparency, metal‐loading ability, and high surface area can allow diffusion of analytes and penetrating light deeply that can enormously amplify sensing outcomes. As polymer‐supported plasmon‐active sensor particles can emerge as versatile SERS substrates, the microfluidic platform is promising for the generation of sensor particles as well as for performing sequential SERS analysis of multiple analytes. Therefore, in this perspective article, the development of multifunctional polymer–metal composite particles, and their applications as potential sensors for SERS sensing through microfluidics are presented. A detailed background from the beginning of the SERS field and perspectives for the multifunctional sensor particles for efficient SERS sensing are provided.

Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a label‐free and accurate analytical technique for the detection of a broad range of various analytes such as, biomolecules, pesticides, petrochemicals, as well as, cellular and other biological systems. A key component for the SERS analysis is the substrate which is required to be equipped with plasmonic features of metal nanostructures that directly interact with light and targeted analytes. Either metal nanoparticles can be deposited on the solid support (glass or silicon) which is suitable for stationary SERS analysis or dispersed in the solution (freely moving nanoparticles). Besides these routinely utilizing SERS substrates, polymer–metal composite particles are promising for sustained SERS analysis where metal nanoparticles act as plasmon‐active (hence SERS‐active) components and polymer particles act as support to the metal nanoparticles. Composite sensor particles provide 3D interaction possibilities for analytes, suitable for stationary, continuous, and sequential analysis, and they are reusable/regenerated. Therefore, this review is focused on the experimental procedures for the development of multiscale, uniform, and reproducible composite sensor particles together with their application for SERS analysis. The microfluidic reaction technique is highly versatile in the production of uniform and size‐tunable composite particles, as well as, for conducting SERS analysis.