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Microfluidic Platform with Multiplexed Electronic Detection for Spatial Tracking of Particles
Published on: March 13, 2017
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Microfluidic CODES: a scalable multiplexed electronic sensor for orthogonal detection of particles in microfluidic
Ruxiu Liu1, Ningquan Wang1, Farhan Kamili1
1School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA. sarioglu@gatech.edu.
Lab on a Chip
|March 30, 2016
Summary
We developed microfluidic CODES, a novel electronic sensor technology for lab-on-a-chip devices. This system enables accurate, low-cost, and scalable detection of cells and particles without microscopy.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Biochemistry
- Microfluidics
- Sensor Technology
Background:
- Lab-on-a-chip devices require spatial particle manipulation for assays.
- Microscopy is often needed for particle analysis, increasing cost and complexity.
- A need exists for cost-effective, integrated solutions for microfluidic assays.
Purpose of the Study:
- Introduce microfluidic CODES, a scalable electronic sensor technology.
- Enable orthogonal particle detection in multiple microfluidic channels using a single output.
- Provide a low-cost, microscopy-free alternative for cell and particle analysis.
Main Methods:
- Utilized resistive pulse sensing and microfluidic principles.
- Integrated telecommunication techniques, specifically Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA).
- Designed coplanar electrodes on a glass substrate to create multiple Coulter counters generating orthogonal digital codes.
Main Results:
- Achieved >90% accuracy in decoding signals from different microfluidic channels, even with signal overlap.
- Successfully detected human ovarian cancer cells in four distinct microfluidic channels.
- Demonstrated a scalable, all-electronic interface for particle detection.
Conclusions:
- Microfluidic CODES offers a simple, integrated solution for lab-on-a-chip devices.
- The technology is suitable for cell- or particle-based assays, particularly in resource-limited settings.
- This approach eliminates the need for microscopy, enhancing cost-effectiveness and scalability.

