Microfluidics

Research that includes: 

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

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

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...

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

BPN322: Microfluidic Multiplexed Cytokine Secretion Assay

David N. Breslauer
J. Tanner Nevill
2006

Diffusible molecules are a significant component of intercellular communication. Understanding the dynamics of the many cellular secretions in regulating multi-cellular systems is important in tissue engineering, drug discovery, and many other biomedical fields. We are developing a multiplexed microfluidic device that traps different secretions from a cell culture for use with fluorescent assays.

Project end date: 08/01/06

RTH/JDK3: Diatom-Inspired Microfluidic Generation of Tunable Emulsions for Macroporous Silica

Frank J. Zendejas
2006

Diatoms are unicellular algae that exhibit exquisite silica cell walls, frustules, made of amorphous silica. Research has shown that diatoms are capable of controlled precipitation of silica during cell division within a specialized membrane called the silica deposition vesicle (SDV). The precipitated silica forms the new shell for the daughter cell. It has been postulated that the diatom SDV contains an emulsion of organic macromolecules arranged in a regular pattern which serve as a template onto which silica is precipitated. Our goal of this project is to use a specially designed...

BPN342: Cell trapping array for cell-cell communication research

Liz Yir-shyuan Wu
2006

Intercellular communication between contact neighboring cells can cause change in morphology, gene expression and cell growth. Incomplete cell-cell communication is correlated with most forms of cancer. Many research efforts have been made to disclosure the molecular process through cell contact for regulating oncogenesis, but the answer is still poorly known. The technologies which can manipulate the time and location of the cell-contact are the exigencies in the field. Here we design a microfluidic device to trap specific number of cells in the array. For example, in two-cell trap...

BPN325: Microfluidic Device for Measuring Endothelial Permeability

Peter White
2007

Both in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that the permeability of the endothelial cell layer that lines vascular walls is influenced by hemodynamic forces. Specific wall shear stress patterns are believed to induce phenotypic changes in cells that alter the uptake of molecules such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and lead to the development of atherosclerotic lesions. The purpose of this research is to develop a microfluidic device in which the flux of specific macromolecules across an endothelial layer can be measured in different locations of a channel. By appropriately...

RMW28: Portable Monitor for Airborne Particles

Justin Black
2007

This project involves development of a portable MEMS based instrument for particulate matter (PM) exposure assessment. The instrument, dubbed the MEMS PM monitor, measures and differentiates fine particulate matter concentrations of such substances as diesel engine exhaust, environmental tobacco smoke, wood smoke, and cooking vapors.

Project end date: 01/29/07

BPN381: SERS Signal Amplification by Optofluidic Photothermal Sample Preconcentration

Hansang Cho
2007

Integrated microfluidic devices. Preconcentration not only improves detection sensitivity of SERS signals but also improves the reliability of the analysis by significantly increasing signal-to-noise ratio. Another reason necessitating preconcentration is the discrepancy between volumes of sample available and those consumed for analysis. The general goal is to preconcentrate a molecule based on thermophoresis in a microfluidic platform to amplify the SERS signals. Our first specific goal is to preconcentrate target molecules using and the second goal is to amplify the SERS signal of...

DL5: DNA Transport in Microfluidic Systems

Shelly Gulati
2007

Fully integrated lab-on-a-chip systems for applications such as DNA sequencing and pathogen detection will incorporate significant microfluidic components. These systems will necessarily require the flow of large molecules such as DNA, which give the bulk fluid viscoelastic behavior. Additionally, the characteristic lengths of these molecules will approach those of the fluid channel, presenting a unique flow situation that is not well understood. The effects of microscale flow in canonical microfluidic structures on the conformation of DNA, and the reciprocal effects of DNA...