Microfluidics

Research that includes: 

  • Microvalves and fluidic flow control
  • Micropumps
  • Modeling of microfluidics
  • Particulate air monitoring
  • Flow Sensors
  • Capillary Pump Loop
  • Optoelectronic Transport & Tweezers

LPL41: Raised Lateral Patch Clamp Array

Adrian Y. Lau
Paul J. Hung
2006

We are developing a prototype capable of reproducing both the geometry and the function of the traditional glass micropipette tip on chip in a high density configuration. Our technology provides a novel high throughput platform for ion channel studies and is highly compatible with existing multiple-well plate format, allowing simple integration with robotic sample handling system. The device is fabricated on transparent polymer substrate PDMS, and thus allows easy integration with immunofluorescent assay platform to provides electrical and optical measurement concurrently....

LPL35: Microfluidic Cell Culture Array

Philip Lee
2005

The investigation of biological processes on the cellular level is becoming increasingly important for medical and bioengineering purposes. We have learned from genomics and proteomics that a vast amount of molecular information is integrated on the cell level. However, current technology is limited in the ability to assay cellular responses to stimuli in high throughput format. Specifically, a standardized platform to perform array experiments on the laboratory scale is needed to help scientists unravel the complexities of eukaryotic cellular behavior. To this end, we are developing...

LPL39: Integrated Microfluidic SERS Devices

Beomseok Kim
Jeoggi Seo
2005

Raman is a label-free analytical method, which offers tremendous advantages for biomolecular detection. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technique can overcome the low cross-sectional problems inherent in Raman spectroscopy. SERS has been observed for a very large number of molecules adsorbed on the surface of Au or Ag in a variety of morphologies and physical environments. With these environments, its detection limit can reach up to 6-10 orders of magnitude over conventional Raman spectroscopy. We know nanoparticle sizes (15-200 nm) and interparticle spaces (0-10 nm) are...

LPL38: Electrophysiology Using a High-Density Microfluidic Array

Ionescu-Zanetti
Jeonggi Seo
2005

The fact that cellular ion channels are effective drug targets, coupled with the laboriousness of traditional patch clamp techniques, has created a need for hi-throughput electrophysiology platforms. Patch clamp based drug screening technology has been recently implemented by using microfabricated patch clamp designs that replace the traditional patch pipette with a pore in a silicon substrate. While successful at high-throughput measurements of channel activity, current devices have yet to achieve high densities of patched cells per unit volume and rely on robotically operated...

BPN327: Plastic Microsyringe

Kathleen Fischer
2006

Stem cells hold the promise of producing functional tissues which can replace those lost due to disease or injury. New organ tissues, such as those found in the heart, liver, or nervous system, can be created from pluripotent stem cells through the process of differentiation. Additionally, pluripotent stem cells can produce an unlimited supply of new stem cells in a process called "self-renewal". In culture, pluripotent stem cells form isolated colonies, and the geometry of these colonies can have a profound impact on their capacity for differentiation. Current culture techniques...

LPL5: Microfluidic Cellular Manipulation - Single cell trapping arrays for quantitiative cell biology

Dino Di Carlo
2006

Previously, microfluidic traps and dams have been used to trap multiple single cells without the control over the number of cells trapped, or precise cell position necessary for quantitative analysis of large numbers of cells. Single cell analysis is required to capture the response of cells and their signaling pathways to stimuli. Bulk averages may distort the actual chemical response by smoothing sharp fluctuations that occur within single cells.

Project end date: 08/01/06

LPL42: Multifunctional Nano-Crescent Probes for Molecular Imaging of Intracellular Signaling Pathway

Gang L. Liu
Jaeyoun Kim
2006

The main goal of this project is to develop novel multifunctional nano-crescent probes with tunable plasmon resonance wavelength, high local field enhancement factor, photothermal sensitivity and magnetic controllability that 1. Enable the real-time and long-term sensing of intracellular activities in response to different inputs with high spatiotemporal resolution; 2. Deliver drugs to desire locations in single cells and regulate drug release on demand. 3. Allow fast and high-throughput monitoring in microfluidic cellular chip.

Project end date: 08/01/06

LPL23: Nanogap Junction Capacitors For Biomolecular Detection

J. Tanner NevilL
Dino Di Carlo
Daniele Malleo
Jeonggi Seo
Cristian Ionescu-Zanetti
2006

The goal of this project is to develop a sensitive, label-free detection technology for biomolecular interactions using a format that can be made highly parallel and disposable. Nanogap sensors enable direct detection, without the need for fluorescent labeling, by using dielectric (or impedence) spectroscopy.

Project end date: 08/01/06

LPL37: Nanoplasmonic Genomics/Proteomics Chip

Gang L. Liu
Joseph C. Doll
2006

Based on the integrated plasmonic nanostructure array, a genomics/proteomics microchip will be built to identify unlabeled oligonucleotides and study the protein-protein interaction in a high-density array format. The multiplexing detection and high-throughput will be realized.

Project end date: 08/01/06

BPN302: Unconventional nanoplasmonic structures for photothermal applications

Jaeyoun Kim
Gang L. Liu
Yu Lu
2006

The local field enhancement associated with the plasmonic resonance in metallic nanostructures has attracted intense research interest for its role in a number of useful optical phenomena such as surface-enhanced Raman scattering. In reality, the surface plasmon resonance, or the collective oscillation of the nanostructure's electrons, inevitably relax some of its energy through phonon and generates heat. Some nanostructures turned out to be especially efficient in such photothermal energy conversion and found applications in thermotherapy of cancer and optically triggered drug...