UCLA researchers have developed a high-speed, on-demand microfluidic droplet platform that allows rapid and precise generation, manipulation, and merging of microdroplets for advanced lab-on-a-chip applications. The technology enables controlled droplet initiation and synchronized merging at high throughput, making it a versatile platform for single-cell analysis, biochemical assays, drug discovery, and diagnostics.
Microfluidic droplet systems are central to modern biomedical research and diagnostics, offering miniaturized reaction compartments for cells, nucleic acids, and chemical assays. However, most droplet systems rely on passive droplet formation methods with fixed geometries, producing droplets at preset frequencies with limited flexibility. This lack of control complicates workflows that require timed droplet creation, precise reagent addition, or multi-step reactions. A platform that enables on-demand droplet control and merging with high speed and precision would significantly expand the utility of droplet microfluidics.
The patented system introduces:
On-demand droplet generation using induced perturbations (e.g., acoustic, laser, or pressure triggers) within specially designed microfluidic geometries.
High-speed operation, supporting rapid droplet creation synchronized with experimental workflows.
Programmable droplet merging modules that bring together droplets from separate channels with precise timing, enabling multi-step assays in a single chip.
Feedback and synchronization mechanisms (covered in the divisional patent) to improve merging reliability and throughput.
Integration of multiple droplet functions—generation, merging, and reagent addition—on the same chip for end-to-end assay workflows.
Precise temporal control: droplets can be generated or merged at specific times rather than at fixed frequencies.
High throughput: supports rapid workflows such as single-cell encapsulation and combinatorial assays.
Scalable and modular: parallelization increases throughput; merging units enable complex multi-step processes.
Reduced cross-contamination: precise droplet control improves assay fidelity.
Flexible reagent addition: enables workflows such as sequential reagent introduction or cell lysis plus downstream reaction steps.
Robust and reliable: divisional claims add features that improve consistency in droplet merging and multi-stage droplet operations.
Single-cell genomics and proteomics: encapsulating individual cells with reagents for downstream molecular analysis.
Digital PCR and nucleic acid assays: precise droplet compartmentalization and reagent merging for ultrasensitive detection.
Drug discovery and screening: combinatorial mixing of drug candidates and targets in microdroplets.
Synthetic biology: programmable multi-step reactions in discrete droplet units.
Diagnostics: lab-on-chip assays for infectious disease or cancer biomarkers with minimal sample volumes.
Prototype microfluidic devices fabricated and validated.
Demonstrated high-speed on-demand droplet creation and reliable downstream merging.
Integration potential established for single-cell and biochemical assay workflows.
US 10,071,359 B2 — High-speed on demand microfluidic droplet generation and manipulation Patent Link
US 10,780,413 B2 — High-speed on demand microfluidic droplet generation and manipulation (Divisional) Patent Link