Abstract
A centrifugal microfluidic platform to develop various microfluidic operations – the first of its kind in South Africa – is presented. Rapid and low-cost prototyping of centrifugal microfluidic disc devices, as well as a set-up to test the devices using centrifugal forces, is described. Preliminary results show that various microfluidic operations such as fluidic valving, transportation, and microfluidic droplet generation can be achieved. This work provides a complete centrifugal microfluidic platform and the building blocks on which to develop a variety of microfluidic applications and potential products rapidly and at a low cost.
Highlights
A centrifugal microfluidic platform is presented to address the limitations and expand on the capabilities of existing microfluidic systems
Preliminary test results show that a variety of microfluidic operations can be achieved, including valving, pumping, and microfluidic droplet generation
To illustrate valving and pumping of fluids within a centrifugal microfluidic disc device, the disc design shown in Figures 2 and 3 was manufactured, assembled, and tested using two different coloured dyes in de-ionised water
Summary
The platform facilitates the rapid and lowcost development of microfluidic components, using only a simple motor to drive the system. This allows for microfluidic solutions and potential products to be developed rapidly, and to be used for compact and portable point-of-care applications. This is seen as having significant future impact, in under-resourced settings. Centrifugal microfluidic systems provide many advantages over existing microfluidic technologies, because diverse functionality can be achieved using only a compact motor, compared with a number of other microfluidic platforms that require bulky, costly equipment to manufacture and/or power the systems. In a final centrifugal microfluidic based product, the fluid analysis sytem could be much simpler – or even obsolete – requiring only a programmable motor to achieve a fully functional system
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