Microfluidics

An inexpensive virus detection scheme with high sensitivity and specificity is desirable for broad applications such as the COVID-19 virus. In this article, we introduce the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) principle on the aggregation of antigen-coated...

The objective of this research is to design, fabricate, characterize, and demonstrate injection-molded, plastic microneedles. Deep Reactive Ion Etching (DRIE) will be used to fabricate silicon die inserts and an “investment casting” technique used to define the inner bore (lumen) of the needle. These silicon die inserts will be incorporated into a standard plastic injection molding machine to transfer the micron-scale features from the silicon die to the plastic microneedles. It is expected to fabricate microneedles from polycarbonate, a premium plastic.

Project end...

With the recent rapid advancements in computer technology, increasingly complex and powerful simulation programs are being developed that allow engineers and scientists in a variety of disciplines to develop extremely sophisticated and detailed models which simulate phenomena that might otherwise be difficult or impossible to verify experimentally or analytically. One specific application of this new technology is in the area of computerized fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations. CFD simulations can be utilized in a myriad of situations, such as modeling jet turbines, or determining...

Sequential flow injection (FI) involves the temporary immobilization of functionalized microspheres as a renewable surface for (bio) chemical assays. We describe a microfabricated flow injection system that employs the ultrasonic flexural plate wave (FPW) device to acoustically capture microspheres from fluid flow. Microsphere capture is achieved by counteracting viscous drag force with radiation pressure generated from a standing acoustic field. The feasibility of acoustic trapping for FI is demonstrated with a bio-ligand assay of fluorescently labeled biotin conjugated to...