  Bilestones are solid masses found in the gallbladder or biliary tract, which
block the normal bile flow and eventually result in severe life-threatening
complications. Studies have shown that bilestone formation may be related to
bile flow dynamics and the concentration level of bile components. The bile
flow dynamics in the biliary tract play a critical role in disclosing the
mechanism of bile stasis and transportation. The concentration of bile
composition is closely associated with processes such as nucleation and
crystallization. Recently, microfluidic-based biosensors have been favored for
multiple advantages over traditional bench-top detection assays for their less
sample consumption, portability, low cost, and high sensitivity for real-time
detection. Here, we reviewed the developments in bile dynamics study and
microfluidics-based bile component detection methods. These studies may provide
valuable insights into the bilestone formation mechanisms and better treatment,
alongside our opinions on the future development of in vitro lithotriptic drug
screening of bilestones and bile characterization tests.
