Localized Droplet Heating with Surface Electrodes in Microfluidic Chips
SUMMARY
Researchers at UCLA have developed a low-cost, fully miniaturized lab-on-a-chip system that is capable of localized temperature control without the need to interface with macroscale tubes, thus taking full advantage of miniaturization via microfluidic protocols.
BACKGROUND
Microfluidics offers many advantages, such as automatically performing assays and minimal reagent usage. Most lab-on-a-chip systems, however, still require interfacing with macroscale tubes for pressure driven fluid handling. This inhibits scalability and parallelization and requires excessive power consumption.
INNOVATION
Researchers at UCLA have developed a fully miniaturized lab-on-a-chip system that performs multiplex thermal processing of discrete micro- and nano-liter sample droplets. The invention enables facile integration of localized temperature control and droplet centering mechanism in addition to basic microfluidic functionalities. Furthermore, the integrated functionalities are implemented via simple thin-film processes without complicating or lengthening the fabrication process.
APPLICATIONS
Microfluidic lab-on-a-chip systems for chemical, biochemical, and biological assays
ADVANTAGES
- Low power consumption
- Integrated local temperature control
- Integrated sample location control
- Simple fabrication process
- Scalable and reconfigurable methodology