Design and realization of flexible droplet-based lab-on-a-chip devices

Gerold Fink,Medina Hamidović,Werner Haselmayr,Robert Wille,Andreas Springer

doi:10.1007/s00502-020-00790-0

Gerold Fink, Medina Hamidović + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00502-020-00790-0

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Abstract

This article provides an overview on the emerging field of droplet-based microfluidic networks. In such networks, droplets i.e., encapsulating biochemical samples can be adaptively transported via microchannels through different operations for particular experiments. This approach is particularly promising for the next generation of lab-on-a-chip devices, which should support more complex operations and more flexibility. We give an accessible introduction to droplet-based microfluidics and describe the principles, of microfluidic switches, which are the main components in microfluidic networks. Based on these principles we present the addressing schemes for microfluidic bus networks. Since the design of microfluidic networks is a rather complex task, which requires the consideration of a huge number of physical parameters, we introduce design automation methods and simulation tools. Finally, we present a method for the precise generation of individual droplets, which enables the practical realization of microfluidic networks. Moreover, we show the latest experimental results on droplet generation and switching.

Highlights

Microfluidics deals with the control and manipulation of small amounts of fluids and provides technological advances to the life sciences
Practical realization The design and simulation tools discussed in the previous section are very important for the development of microfluidic chips
Since only the dispersed phase needs to be controlled no synchronization between the two phases is necessary and multiple independent dispersed channels can be connected to a single channel. The latter property is a unique feature compared to state-of-the-art off-chip control methods, which allows, for the first time, to practically validate the concept of microfluidic networking and switching

Summary

From theory to practice

This article provides an overview on the emerging field of droplet-based microfluidic networks. In such networks, droplets i.e., encapsulating biochemical samples can be adaptively transported via microchannels through different operations for particular experiments. Droplets i.e., encapsulating biochemical samples can be adaptively transported via microchannels through different operations for particular experiments This approach is promising for the generation of lab-on-a-chip devices, which should support more complex operations and more flexibility. Da der Entwurf von mikrofluidischen Netzwerken eine komplexe Aufgabe ist, bei der eine große Anzahl von physikalischen Parametern berücksichtigt werden muss, stellen wir verschiedene Ansätze zur Entwurfsautomatisierung und Simulation vor. Schließlich präsentieren wir eine Methode zur präzisen Erzeugung von Tröpfchen, die eine praktische Realisierung von mikrofluidischen Netzwerken ermöglichen soll.

Introduction

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