			Home About us Contact

Microfluidic System (microfluidic + system)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Life Sciences	54%
Polymers and Materials Science	27%
Chemistry	15%

Selected Abstracts

Integrating an Enzyme-Entrapped Conducting Polymer Electrode and a Prereactor in a Microfluidic System for Sensing Glucose

ELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 6 2008
Po-Chin Nien
Abstract In this study, the flow injection analysis was applied to the enzyme-entrapped electrode on a chip for sensing glucose. The on-chip microelectrode was fabricated by the standard photolithography in clean-room environment and the microfluidic channel height of 100,,m on the chip was formed by poly(dimethylsiloxane). The conducting polymer, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), PEDOT, was electropolymerized to entrap the coexisting glucose oxidase (GOD) by cyclic voltammetry (CV). The amount of enzyme entrapped in the matrix measured spectroscopically was about 0.101,U/cm2. At a flow rate of 10,ml/hr, the working electrode (Pt/PEDOT/GOD, WE1) was set at 0.7,V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and sensing of H2O2 was carried out by injecting samples with various concentrations of glucose (Glu). A linear relationship between the sensing current and the glucose concentration, ranging from 1 to 20,mM, was obtained with a sensitivity of 8,nA mm,2 mM,1. The response time and the recovery time were about 30 and 230,s, respectively. For a single-potential test, the oxidation currents of 0.08,mM ascorbic acid (AA) and a blend of 0.08,mM AA and 10,mM Glu reached 31.3% and 145.5%, respectively, when compared with the oxidation current of 10,mM Glu alone. However, when a pre-reactor (WE2) was set at the same potential (0.7,V) before the main enzyme integrated electrode (WE1), the oxidation current for the above mixed solution reached 99.6% of the original one. [source]

Design of a Microfluidic System to Investigate the Mechanical Properties of Layer-by-Layer Fabricated Capsules

MACROMOLECULAR MATERIALS & ENGINEERING, Issue 12 2003
Michelle Prevot
Abstract A microfluidic system was designed, fabricated and implemented to study the behavior of polyelectrolyte capsules flowing in microscale channels. The device contains microchannels that lead into constrictions intended to capture polyelectrolyte microcapsules which were fabricated with the well-known layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly technique. The behavior of hollow capsules at the constrictions was visualized and the properties of the capsules were investigated before and after introduction into the device. Time series of video frames showing capsules being compressed into a constriction. [source]

Microautosamplers for discrete sample injection and dispensation

ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 9 2005
Chun-Wei Huang
Abstract Microfluidic systems show considerable potential for use in the continuous reaction and analysis of biosamples for various applications, such as drug screening and chemical synthesis. Typically, microfluidic chips are externally connected with large-scale autosamplers to inject specific volumes of discrete samples in the continuous monitoring and analysis of multiple samples. This paper presents a novel microelectromechanical system (MEMS)-based autosampler capable of performing the discrete injection and dispensation of variable-volume samples. This microdevice can be integrated with other microfluidic devices to facilitate the continuous monitoring and analysis of multiple biosamples. By means of electroosmotic focusing and switching controlled by the direct application of electric sources on specific fluid reservoirs, a precise sample volume can be injected into the specified outlet port. Fluorescence dye images verify the performance of the developed device. An injection-and-washing scheme is developed to prevent cross-contamination during the continuous injection of different samples. This approach renders feasible the injection of several discrete samples using a single microchip. Compared to its large-scale counterparts, the developed microautosampler is compact in size, has low fabrication costs, is straightforward to control, and most importantly, is readily integrated with other microfluidic devices (e.g., microcapillary electrophoresis chips) to form a microfluidic system capable of the continuous monitoring and analysis of bioreactions. The proposed microautosampler could be promising towards realizing the micrototal analysis system (,-TAS) concept. [source]

Cover Picture: Electrophoresis 14'09

ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 14 2009
Article first published online: 28 JUL 200
Issue no. 14 is an Emphasis Issue with 9 articles on various aspects of "Proteins and Proteomics" while the remaining 14 articles are arranged into 4 different parts including "Microfluidics and Miniaturization", "Genotyping and Transcriptomics", "Enantioseparations", and "Nanoparticles and Abused Drugs Analyses". Selected articles are: Effective elimination of nucleic acids from bacterial protein samples for optimized blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis ((10.1002/elps.200900026)) 2-D difference in gel electrophoresis combined with Pro-Q Diamond staining: A successful approach for the identification of kinase/phosphatase targets ((10.1002/elps.200800780)) Microvalves actuated sandwich immunoassay on an integrated microfluidic system ((10.1002/elps.200800818)) Chemical gradient-mediated melting curve analysis for genotyping of SNPs ((10.1002/elps.200800729)) [source]

Cover Picture: Electrophoresis 14/2008

ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 14 2008
Article first published online: 23 JUL 200
Issue 14 is a regular issue including an Emphasis Section offering a series of 9 papers on ,Microfluidics and Miniaturization". These 9 research papers report on various topics including studying single DNA molecules, selective release of intracellular molecules on the single cell level, isoelectric focusing of proteins in an ordered micropillar array, sample stream focusing in a microchip, integrated microfluidic system for sensing infectious viral disease, EOF in annulus and rectangular channels, confinement effects on monolith morphology, accumulation and filtering of nanoparticles in microchannels, and carbon nanotubes disposable detectors. [source]

A label-free protein microfluidic array for parallel immunoassays

ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 20 2006
Zhan-Hui Wang
Abstract A label-free protein microfluidic array for immunoassays based on the combination of imaging ellipsometry and an integrated microfluidic system is presented. Proteins can be patterned homogeneously on substrate in array format by the microfluidic system simultaneously. After preparation, the protein array can be packed in the microfluidic system which is full of buffer so that proteins are not exposed to denaturing conditions. With simple microfluidic channel junction, the protein microfluidic array can be used in serial or parallel format to analyze single or multiple samples simultaneously. Imaging ellipsometry is used for the protein array reading with a label-free format. The biological and medical applications of the label-free protein microfluidic array are demonstrated by screening for antibody,antigen interactions, measuring the concentration of the protein solution and detecting five markers of hepatitis,B. [source]

Electrokinetic-driven microfluidic system in poly(dimethylsiloxane) for mass spectrometry detection integrating sample injection, capillary electrophoresis, and electrospray emitter on-chip

ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 24 2005
Sara Thorslund
Abstract A novel microsystem device in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) for MS detection is presented. The microchip integrates sample injection, capillary electrophoretic separation, and electrospray emitter in a single substrate, and all modules are fabricated in the PDMS bulk material. The injection and separation flow is driven electrokinetically and the total amount of external equipment needed consists of a three-channel high-voltage power supply. The instant switching between sample injection and separation is performed through a series of low-cost relays, limiting the separation field strength to a maximum of 270,V/cm. We show that this set-up is sufficient to accomplish electrospray MS analysis and, to a moderate extent, microchip separation of standard peptides. A new method of instant in-channel oxidation makes it possible to overcome the problem of irreversibly bonded PDMS channels that have recovered their hydrophobic properties over time. The fast method turns the channel surfaces hydrophilic and less prone to nonspecific analyte adsorption, yielding better separation efficiencies and higher apparent peptide mobilities. [source]

Gravity-induced convective flow in microfluidic systems: Electrochemical characterization and application to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay tests

ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 21-22 2004
Patrick Morier
Abstract A way of using gravity flow to induce a linear convection within a microfluidic system is presented. It is shown and mathematically supported that tilting a 1 cm long covered microchannel is enough to generate flow rates up to 1000 nL·min -1, which represents a linear velocity of 2.4 mm·s -1. This paper also presents a method to monitor the microfluidic events occurring in a covered microchannel when a difference of pressure is applied to force a solution to flow in said covered microchannel, thanks to electrodes inserted in the microfluidic device. Gravity-induced flow monitored electrochemically is applied to the performance of a parallel-microchannel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) with electrochemical detection. A simple method for generating and monitoring fluid flows is described, which can, for instance, be used for controlling parallel assays in microsystems. [source]

Microstructures: Facile Fabrication of Monolithic 3D Porous Silica Microstructures and a Microfluidic System Embedded with the Microstructure (Adv. Funct.

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 9 2010
Mater.
D.-P. Kim and co-workers present the fabrication of monolithic 3D porous silica structures into a multilayer framework with bimodal pore size distribution on page 1473. The structure becomes monolithic upon pyrolyzing the stacked layers, and then easily embedded in microchannel with the aid of photolithography, leading to a microfluidic system with built-in microstructure in a site- and shape-controlled manner. [source]

Facile Fabrication of Monolithic 3D Porous Silica Microstructures and a Microfluidic System Embedded with the Microstructure

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 9 2010
ZuoYi Xiao
Abstract Monolithic 3D porous silica structures are fabricated into a multilayer framework with a bimodal pore size distribution in the micrometer and sub-micrometer range. The fabrication , which involves directed assembly of colloidal spheres, transfer printing, and removal of a sacrificial template , yields robust and mechanically stable structures over a large area. The structure becomes monolithic upon pyrolyzing the stacked layers, which induces necking of the particles. The monolithic microstructures can easily be embedded in microchannels with the aid of photolithography, leading to the formation of a microfluidic system with a built-in microstructure in a site- and shape-controlled manner. Utilization of the system results in a fourfold increase in the mixing efficiency in the microchannel. [source]

Phototunable Microlens Array Based on Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystals

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 7 2009
Gui-Rong Xiong
Abstract A microfluidic system is designed to fabricate polymer dispersed liquid crystal microspheres, whose shape, surface smoothness, and size are controlled. A microlens array (MLA) is constructed by the assembly of the monodispersed microspheres. In the MLA, each microsphere acts as a separate imaging unit. As the liquid crystal (LC) used is a mixed liquid crystal that contain photoresponsive 4-butyl-4-methoxyazobenzene, the imaging capability and light transportation of the MLA can be reversibly controlled by light irradiation. [source]

Cover Picture: Fabrication of Stable Metallic Patterns Embedded in Poly(dimethylsiloxane) and Model Applications in Non-Planar Electronic and Lab-on-a-Chip Device Patterning (Adv. Funct.

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 4 2005
Mater.
Abstract A composite image is shown that highlights examples of device architectures that either incorporate or exploit polymer-embedded metallic microstructures. In work reported by Nuzzo and co-workers on p.,557, new applications of soft lithography, in conjunction with advanced forms of multilayer metallization, are used to construct these exceptionally durable structures. They are suitable for use in non-planar lithographic patterning, and as device components finding applications ranging from microelectronics to Lab-on-a-Chip analytical systems. This article describes the fabrication of durable metallic patterns that are embedded in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and demonstrates their use in several representative applications. The method involves the transfer and subsequent embedding of micrometer-scale gold (and other thin-film material) patterns into PDMS via adhesion chemistries mediated by silane coupling agents. We demonstrate the process as a suitable method for patterning stable functional metallization structures on PDMS, ones with limiting feature sizes less than 5,,m, and their subsequent utilization as structures suitable for use in applications ranging from soft-lithographic patterning, non-planar electronics, and microfluidic (lab-on-a-chip, LOC) analytical systems. We demonstrate specifically that metal patterns embedded in both planar and spherically curved PDMS substrates can be used as compliant contact photomasks for conventional photolithographic processes. The non-planar photomask fabricated with this technique has the same surface shape as the substrate, and thus facilitates the registration of structures in multilevel devices. This quality was specifically tested in a model demonstration in which an array of one hundred metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) devices was fabricated on a spherically curved Si single-crystalline lens. The most significant opportunities for the processes reported here, however, appear to reside in applications in analytical chemistry that exploit devices fabricated using the methods of soft lithography. Toward this end, we demonstrate durably bonded metal patterns on PDMS that are appropriate for use in microfluidic, microanalytical, and microelectromechanical systems. We describe a multilayer metal-electrode fabrication scheme (multilaminate metal,insulator,metal (MIM) structures that substantially enhance performance and stability) and use it to enable the construction of PDMS LOC devices using electrochemical detection. A polymer-based microelectrochemical analytical system, one incorporating an electrode array for cyclic voltammetry and a microfluidic system for the electrophoretic separation of dopamine and catechol with amperometric detection, is demonstrated. [source]

Towards a quantitative SERS approach , online monitoring of analytes in a microfluidic system with isotope-edited internal standards

JOURNAL OF BIOPHOTONICS, Issue 4 2009
Anne März
Abstract In this contribution a new approach for quantitative measurements using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is presented. Combining the application of isotope-edited internal standard with the advantages of the liquid,liquid segmented-flow-based approach for flow-through SERS detection seems to be a promising means for quantitative SERS analysis. For the investigations discussed here a newly designed flow cell, tested for ideal mixing efficiency on the basis of grayscale-value measurements, is implemented. Measurements with the heteroaromatics nicotine and pyridine using their respective deuterated isotopomers as internal standards show that the integration of an isotopically labeled internal standard in the used liquid,liquid two-phase segmented flow leads to reproducible and comparable SERS spectra independent from the used colloid. With the implementation of an internal standard into the microfluidic device the influence of the properties of the colloid on the SERS activity can be compensated. Thus, the problem of a poor batch-to-batch reproducibility of the needed nanoparticle solutions is solved. To the best of our knowledge these are the first measurements combining the above mentioned concepts in order to correct for differences in the enhancement behaviour of the respective colloid. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]

Differentiation among various kinds of cheese by identification of casein using HPLC-chip/MS/MS,

JOURNAL OF SEPARATION SCIENCE, JSS, Issue 16 2010
Martin Franc
Abstract In proteomics, proteins can be identified by enzymatic cleavage of the target protein using an enzyme of the known specificity (primarily trypsin), sequencing the obtained specific peptides by MS and comparing the amino acid sequence of the peptides with a protein database. The sophisticated approach described above was used in this study to determine and verify the original species of cheeses. Proteins were extracted from three different cheese samples which were produced from cow, sheep and goat milks. The isolated proteins were cleaved with trypsin and the peptides obtained were sequenced and identified by a HPLC-chip/MS/MS microfluidic system. Two different extraction methods and two various chromatographic sorbents packed in plastic chips were studied. ,-Lactoglobuline and four kinds of casein were found in the cheese samples. The species of ,-casein were identified unambiguously in all the three cheese samples and, thus, ,-casein can be used to determine the origin of milk of the cheese. The other proteins found in the samples show very similar primary structures and cannot be recommended for identification of the cheese milk origin. [source]

Design of a Microfluidic System to Investigate the Mechanical Properties of Layer-by-Layer Fabricated Capsules

A microfluidic bioreactor with integrated transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurement electrodes for evaluation of renal epithelial cells

BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING, Issue 4 2010
Nicholas Ferrell
Abstract We have developed a bilayer microfluidic system with integrated transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurement electrodes to evaluate kidney epithelial cells under physiologically relevant fluid flow conditions. The bioreactor consists of apical and basolateral fluidic chambers connected via a transparent microporous membrane. The top chamber contains microfluidic channels to perfuse the apical surface of the cells. The bottom chamber acts as a reservoir for transport across the cell layer and provides support for the membrane. TEER electrodes were integrated into the device to monitor cell growth and evaluate cell,cell tight junction integrity. Immunofluorescence staining was performed within the microchannels for ZO-1 tight junction protein and acetylated ,-tubulin (primary cilia) using human renal epithelial cells (HREC) and MDCK cells. HREC were stained for cytoskeletal F-actin and exhibited disassembly of cytosolic F-actin stress fibers when exposed to shear stress. TEER was monitored over time under normal culture conditions and after disruption of the tight junctions using low Ca2+ medium. The transport rate of a fluorescently labeled tracer molecule (FITC-inulin) was measured before and after Ca2+ switch and a decrease in TEER corresponded with a large increase in paracellular inulin transport. This bioreactor design provides an instrumented platform with physiologically meaningful flow conditions to study various epithelial cell transport processes. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010;107:707,716. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source]

Neurite growth in 3D collagen gels with gradients of mechanical properties

BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING, Issue 2 2009
Harini G. Sundararaghavan
Abstract We have designed and developed a microfluidic system to study the response of cells to controlled gradients of mechanical stiffness in 3D collagen gels. An ,H'-shaped, source,sink network was filled with a type I collagen solution, which self-assembled into a fibrillar gel. A 1D gradient of genipin,a natural crosslinker that also causes collagen to fluoresce upon crosslinking,was generated in the cross-channel through the 3D collagen gel to create a gradient of crosslinks and stiffness. The gradient of stiffness was observed via fluorescence. A separate, underlying channel in the microfluidic construct allowed the introduction of cells into the gradient. Neurites from chick dorsal root ganglia explants grew significantly longer down the gradient of stiffness than up the gradient and than in control gels not treated with genipin. No changes in cell adhesion, collagen fiber size, or density were observed following crosslinking with genipin, indicating that the primary effect of genipin was on the mechanical properties of the gel. These results demonstrate that (1) the microfluidic system can be used to study durotactic behavior of cells and (2) neurite growth can be directed and enhanced by a gradient of mechanical properties, with the goal of incorporating mechanical gradients into nerve and spinal cord regenerative therapies. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009;102: 632,643. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source]

Continuous perfusion microfluidic cell culture array for high-throughput cell-based assays

BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING, Issue 1 2005
Paul J. Hung
Abstract We present for the first time a microfluidic cell culture array for long-term cellular monitoring. The 10 × 10 array could potentially assay 100 different cell-based experiments in parallel. The device was designed to integrate the processes used in typical cell culture experiments on a single self-contained microfluidic system. Major functions include repeated cell growth/passage cycles, reagent introduction, and real-time optical analysis. The single unit of the array consists of a circular microfluidic chamber, multiple narrow perfusion channels surrounding the main chamber, and four ports for fluidic access. Human carcinoma (HeLa) cells were cultured inside the device with continuous perfusion of medium at 37°C. The observed doubling time was 1.4 ± 0.1 days with a peak cell density of ,2.5*105 cells/cm2. Cell assay was demonstrated by monitoring the fluorescence localization of calcein AM from 1 min to 10 days after reagent introduction. Confluent cell cultures were passaged within the microfluidic chambers using trypsin and successfully regrown, suggesting a stable culture environment suitable for continuous operation. The cell culture array could offer a platform for a wide range of assays with applications in drug screening, bioinformatics, and quantitative cell biology. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source]

Quantification of chemical,polymer surface interactions in microfluidic cell culture devices

BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 2 2009
Hui Xu
Abstract Microfluidic cell culture devices have been used for drug development, chemical analysis, and environmental pollutant detection. Because of the decreased fluid volume and increased surface area to volume ratio, interactions between device surfaces and the fluid is a key element that affects the performance and detection accuracy of microfluidic devices, particularly if fluid is recirculated by a peristaltic pump. However, this issue has not been studied in detail in a microfluidic cell culture environment. In this study, chemical loss and contaminant leakage from various polymer surfaces in a microfluidic setup were characterized. The effects of hydrophilic coating with Poly (vinyl alcohol), Pluronic® F-68, and multi-layer ionic coating were measured. We observed significant surface adsorption of estradiol, doxorubicin, and verapamil with PharMed® BPT tubing, whereas PTFE/BPT and stainless steel/BPT hybrid tubing caused less chemical loss in proportion to the fraction of BPT tubing in the hybrid system. Contaminants leaching out of the BPT tubing were found to be estrogen receptor agonists as determined by estrogen-induced green fluorescence expression in an estrogen responsive Ishikawa cell line and also caused interference with an estradiol enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay. Stainless steel/BPT hybrid tubing caused the least interference with ELISA. In summary, polymer surface and chemical interactions inside microfluidic systems should not be neglected and require careful investigations when results from a microfluidic system are compared with results from a macroscale cell culture setup. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2009 [source]

Nanoparticle-Structured Ligand Framework as Electrode Interfaces

ELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 1-2 2004
Nancy
Abstract Nanostructured thin film assemblies derived from metal or oxide nanocrystal cores and functionalized molecular shells provide large surface-to-volume ratio and three-dimensional ligand frameworks. In this article, we report results of an investigation of the nanostructured materials for electroanalysis. Monolayer-capped gold nanoparticles of 2-nm core diameter and carboxylic acid-functionalized alkyl thiols were assembled on electrode surfaces via an exchange-crosslinking-precipitation reaction route, and were studied as a model system. The network assemblies exhibit open frameworks in which the void space forms channels with the nanometer sized cores defining its size and the shell structures defining its chemical specificity. Such nanostructures were exploited to demonstrate the viability of responsive materials for interfacial incorporation and fluxes of ionic species. The nanomaterials were characterized by an array of techniques, including cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical quartz-crystal nanobalance, flow injection analysis, and surface infrared reflection spectroscopy. The current responses and mass loading as a result of the incorporation of ionic species into the nanostructure have been analyzed. The potential application of the nanostructured thin films for electrochemical detection in microfluidic systems is also discussed. [source]

Parameters governing reproducibility of flow properties of porous monoliths photopatterned within microfluidic channels

ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 14 2010
Mei He
Abstract We report the patternability as well as the reproducibility and stability of flow resistance of polymer monolithic beds photopatterned within microfluidic channels as a function of initial reagent composition and preparation conditions. 2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate and ethylene dimethacrylate-based polymer monoliths were selectively photopatterned within microchannels and their flow resistance was evaluated using a photobleaching, TOF linear flow rate measurement method developed in our lab. This measurement technique was found to be significantly more informative for columns formed in microfluidic channels compared with bulk monolith characterization by mercury intrusion porosimetry. 1-Octanol was determined to provide sharp bed edge formation and relatively low flow resistance by photopatterning relative to other porogenic solvents. Compared with literature formulations which did not achieve good flow stability and reproducibility from batch to batch, using 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, ethylene dimethacrylate and 1-octanol as porogenic solvents, less than 4% RSD was achieved in flow stability over 7 days for monoliths prepared with 60,80% crosslinker(monomer+crosslinker) ratio. Column-to-column variation of 5% RSD was obtained in this composition range. These results demonstrate that photopatterning of uniform polymer monolithic beds, which is critical for applications in multiplexed microfluidic systems, requires careful attention to the parameters that affect reproducibility, specifically the porogenic solvent choice and the crosslinker to monomer ratio. [source]

Dielectrophoresis microsystem with integrated flow cytometers for on-line monitoring of sorting efficiency

ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 24 2006
Zhenyu Wang
Abstract Dielectrophoresis (DEP) and flow cytometry are powerful technologies and widely applied in microfluidic systems for handling and measuring cells and particles. Here, we present a novel microchip with a DEP selective filter integrated with two microchip flow cytometers (FCs) for on-line monitoring of cell sorting processes. On the microchip, the DEP filter is integrated in a microfluidic channel network to sort yeast cells by positive DEP. The two FCs detection windows are set upstream and downstream of the DEP filter. When a cell passes through the detection windows, the light scattered by the cell is measured by integrated polymer optical elements (waveguide, lens, and fiber coupler). By comparing the cell counting rates measured by the two FCs, the collection efficiency of the DEP filter can be determined. The chips were used for quantitative determination of the effect of flow rate, applied voltage, conductivity of the sample, and frequency of the electric field on the sorting efficiency. A theoretical model for the capture efficiency was developed and a reasonable agreement with the experimental results observed. Viable and non-viable yeast cells showed different frequency dependencies and were sorted with high efficiency. At 2,MHz, more than 90% of the viable and less than 10% of the non-viable cells were captured on the DEP filter. The presented approach provides quantitative real-time data for sorting a large number of cells and will allow optimization of the conditions for, e.g., collecting cancer cells on a DEP filter while normal cells pass through the system. Furthermore, the microstructure is simple to fabricate and can easily be integrated with other microstructures for lab-on-a-chip applications. [source]

Microfluidic technologies for MALDI-MS in proteomics

ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 18 2006
Don L. DeVoe Professor
Abstract The field of microfluidics continues to offer great promise as an enabling technology for advanced analytical tools. For biomolecular analysis, there is often a critical need to couple on-chip microfluidic sample manipulation with back-end MS. Though interfacing microfluidics to MS has been most often reported through the use of direct ESI-MS, there are compelling reasons for coupling microfluidics to MALDI-MS as an alternative to ESI-MS for both online and offline analysis. The intent of this review is to provide a summary of recent developments in the integration of microfluidic systems with MALDI-MS, with an emphasis on applications in proteomics. Key points are summarized, followed by a review of relevant technologies and a discussion of outlook for the field. [source]

Numerical modeling of the Joule heating effect on electrokinetic flow focusing

ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 10 2006
Kuan-Da Huang
Abstract In electrokinetically driven microfluidic systems, the driving voltage applied during operation tends to induce a Joule heating effect in the buffer solution. This heat source alters the solution's characteristics and changes both the electrical potential field and the velocity field during the transport process. This study performs a series of numerical simulations to investigate the Joule heating effect and analyzes its influence on the electrokinetic focusing performance. The results indicate that the Joule heating effect causes the diffusion coefficient of the sample to increase, the potential distribution to change, and the flow velocity field to adopt a nonuniform profile. These variations are particularly pronounced under tighter focusing conditions and at higher applied electrical intensities. In numerical investigations, it is found that the focused bandwidth broadens because thermal diffusion effect is enhanced by Joule heating. The variation in the potential distribution induces a nonuniform flow field and causes the focused bandwidth to tighten and broaden alternately as a result of the convex and concave velocity flow profiles, respectively. The present results confirm that the Joule heating effect exerts a considerable influence on the electrokinetic focusing ratio. [source]

Fast immobilization of probe beads by dielectrophoresis-controlled adhesion in a versatile microfluidic platform for affinity assay

ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 19 2005
Janko Auerswald Dr.
Abstract The use of probe beads for lab-on-chip affinity assays is very interesting from a practical point of view. It is easier to handle and trap beads than molecules in microfluidic systems. We present a method for the immobilization of probe beads at defined areas on a chip using dielectrophoresis (DEP)-controlled adhesion. The method is fast, i.e., it takes between 10 and 120,s , depending on the protocol , to functionalize a chip surface at defined areas. The method is versatile, i.e., it works for beads with different types of probe molecule coatings. The immobilization is irreversible, i.e., the retained beads are able to withstand high flow velocities in a flow-through device even after the DEP voltage is turned off, thus allowing the use of conventional high-conductivity analyte buffers in the following assay procedure. We demonstrate the on-chip immobilization of fluorescent beads coated with biotin, protein,A, and goat,antimouse immunoglobulin G (IgG). The number of immobilized beads at an electrode array can be determined from their fluorescence signal. Further, we use this method to demonstrate the detection of streptavidin and mouse IgG. Finally, we demonstrate the feasibility of the parallel detection of different analyte molecules on the same chip. [source]

Gravity-induced convective flow in microfluidic systems: Electrochemical characterization and application to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay tests

Solvent-Resistant PDMS Microfluidic Devices with Hybrid Inorganic/Organic Polymer Coatings

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 23 2009
Bo-Yeol Kim
Abstract This study presents a method for the fabrication of solvent-resistant poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microfluidic devices by coating the microfluidic channel with a hybrid inorganic/organic polymer (HR4). This modification dramatically increases the resistance of PDMS microfluidic channels to various solvents, because it leads to a significant reduction in the rate of solvent absorption and consequent swelling. The compatibility of modified PDMS with a wide range of solvents is investigated by evaluating the swelling ratio measured through weight changes in a standard block. The HR4-modified PDMS microfluidic device can be applied to the formation of water-in-oil (W/O) and oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions. The generation of organic solvent droplets with high monodispersity in the microfluidic device without swelling problems is demonstrated. The advantage of this proposed method is that it can be used to rapidly fabricate microfluidic devices using the bulk properties of PDMS, while also increasing their resistance to various organic solvents. This high compatibility with a variety of solvents of HR4-modified PDMS can expand the application of microfluidic systems to many research fields. [source]

Functional Nanostructured Plasmonic Materials

ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 10 2010
Jimin Yao
Abstract Plasmonic crystals fabricated with precisely controlled arrays of subwavelength metal nanostructures provide a promising platform for sensing and imaging of surface binding events with micrometer spatial resolution over large areas. Soft nanoimprint lithography provides a robust, cost-effective method for producing highly uniform plasmonic crystals of this type with predictable optical properties. The tunable multimode plasmonic resonances of these crystals and their ability for integration into lab-on-a-chip microfluidic systems can both be harnessed to achieve exceptionally high analytical sensitivities down to submonolayer levels using even a common optical microscope, circumventing numerous technical limitations of more conventional surface plasmon resonance techniques. In this article, we highlight some recent advances in this field with an emphasis on the fabrication and characterization of these integrated devices and their demonstrated applications. [source]

Exploring Optical Properties of Liquid Crystals for Developing Label-Free and High-Throughput Microfluidic Immunoassays,

ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 2 2009
Chang-Ying Xue
The orientational transition of liquid crystals (LCs) is used as a label-free detection mechanism for immunoassays developed in microfluidic systems. LCs only show bright optical textures (visible to the naked eye) in the line-line intersections in which label-free antibodies bind to their surface-immobilized antigens, suggesting the feasibility of using LCs to detect specific antigen-antibody binding events in a high-throughput and multiplexed manner. [source]