Droplet Microfluidics for Chip-Based Diagnostics
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB-T2N 1N4, Canada
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Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
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These authors contributed equally to this work.
Sensors 2014, 14(12), 23283-23306; https://doi.org/10.3390/s141223283
Received: 21 July 2014
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Revised: 4 November 2014
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Accepted: 27 November 2014
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Published: 5 December 2014
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Opto-Microfluidics for Bio Applications)
Droplet microfluidics (DMF) is a fluidic handling technology that enables precision control over dispensing and subsequent manipulation of droplets in the volume range of microliters to picoliters, on a micro-fabricated device. There are several different droplet actuation methods, all of which can generate external stimuli, to either actively or passively control the shape and positioning of fluidic droplets over patterned substrates. In this review article, we focus on the operation and utility of electro-actuation-based DMF devices, which utilize one or more micro-/nano-patterned substrates to facilitate electric field-based handling of chemical and/or biological samples. The underlying theory of DMF actuations, device fabrication methods and integration of optical and opto-electronic detectors is discussed in this review. Example applications of such electro-actuation-based DMF devices have also been included, illustrating the various actuation methods and their utility in conducting chip-based laboratory and clinical diagnostic assays.
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Keywords:
droplet microfluidics; electro-actuation; dielectrophoresis; electrowetting; electrostatic force; nucleic acid; PCR; qPCR; immunoassays; proteomics; photomultiplier tube
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MDPI and ACS Style
Kaler, K.V.I.S.; Prakash, R. Droplet Microfluidics for Chip-Based Diagnostics. Sensors 2014, 14, 23283-23306. https://doi.org/10.3390/s141223283
AMA Style
Kaler KVIS, Prakash R. Droplet Microfluidics for Chip-Based Diagnostics. Sensors. 2014; 14(12):23283-23306. https://doi.org/10.3390/s141223283
Chicago/Turabian StyleKaler, Karan V.I.S., and Ravi Prakash. 2014. "Droplet Microfluidics for Chip-Based Diagnostics" Sensors 14, no. 12: 23283-23306. https://doi.org/10.3390/s141223283
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