Additively Manufactured Digital Microfluidic Platforms for Ion-Selective Sensing

Digital microfluidic (DMF) sensors integrated with circuit systems have been applied to a broad range of applications including biology, medicine, and chemistry. Compared with the conventional microfluidic devices that require extra liquid as a carrier and a complex pumping system to operate, DMF is an ideal platform for ion-selective sensing as it enables the droplet operation in a discrete, accurate, and automatic way. However, it is quite rare that DMF platform is utilized for the ion-selective detection. In this paper, we report an integrated DMF system which combines DMF and ion-selective sensing for facile blending of multiple ions, and detection of targeted primary ion. The platform is fabricated through an additive manufacturing method, together with the real-time droplet's motion monitoring feedback system. Thus, the fabricated system demonstrates controlled droplet manipulation ability including droplet actuation, mixing, and speed control. Targeted primary ion is selectively detected under concentration range from 10^-6 to 1 M. The interference study with blended ions has been investigated through on-chip ion selective membranes.