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Microfluidic Chips Controlled with Elastomeric Microvalve Arrays

Microfluidic Chips Controlled with Elastomeric Microvalve Arrays

Published on: October 1, 2007

On-chip digital microfluidic architectures for enhanced actuation and sensing.

Jacqueline Nichols¹, Christopher M Collier, Emily L Landry

¹University of British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V1V7, Canada.

Journal of Biomedical Optics

|June 28, 2012

Summary

This study presents an integrated lab-on-a-chip system for precise digital microfluidic actuation and sensing. It demonstrates localized microdrop control and on-chip refractive index measurement, advancing microfluidic technology.

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Area of Science:

Microfluidics
Biotechnology
Sensor Technology

Background:

Digital microfluidics (DMF) systems enable precise manipulation of discrete fluid volumes.
Integrating actuation and sensing on a single chip presents challenges in signal interference and miniaturization.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop an on-chip system integrating digital microfluidic actuation and sensing.
To demonstrate localized microdrop control and on-chip refractive index measurement.

Main Methods:

A digital microfluidic multiplexer layout was designed for localized actuation, enabling two-dimensional microdrop motion on a 14x14 grid.
A folded-cavity design was employed for enhanced optical intensity probing of fluid refractive indices.
Electro-dispensing was used to fabricate the optical architecture for refractive index sensing.

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Main Results:

Localized actuation successfully overcame multi-microdrop interference, achieving complete 2D motion with 14+14 inputs.
The on-chip refractometer demonstrated heightened optical intensities with a linear response to fluid refractive index.
The integrated system successfully combined localized microdrop actuation and sensing functionalities.

Conclusions:

The developed lab-on-a-chip system effectively integrates digital microfluidic actuation and sensing.
The system offers a robust platform for precise microfluidic control and real-time fluid analysis.
This integrated approach has potential applications in diagnostics, drug discovery, and chemical analysis.