Photobleached-fluorescence imaging of microflows

A photobleached-fluorescence imaging technique for visualizing microscale flow fields and obtaining molecular diffusion and advection information has been developed. The technique tracks fluorophores in the region of a photobleached line in a planar microdevice and yields quantitative diffusive and advective transport data. Visualizations of two- and weakly three-dimensional electroosmotically and pressure-driven fluid flow fields are demonstrated using the photobleaching of fluorescein and fluorescein-dextran conjugates. Photobleached-fluorescence imaging tracks undisturbed fluorophores, functions in polymer and glass microfluidic devices, can take advantage of fluorescent conjugates present in biochemical assays, and has a photobleached region that is flow independent.