Electrical actuation of dielectric droplets by negative liquid dielectrophoresis

This paper presents an electrical actuation scheme of dielectric droplet by negative liquid dielectrophoresis. A general model of lumped parameter electromechanics for evaluating the electromechanical force acting on the droplets is established. The model reveals the influence of actuation voltage, device geometry, and dielectric parameter on the actuation force for both conductive and dielectric medium. Using this model, we compare the actuation forces for four liquid combinations in the parallel-plate geometry and predict the low voltage actuation of dielectric droplets by negative dielectrophoresis. Parallel experimental results demonstrate such electric actuation of dielectric droplets, including droplet transport, splitting, merging, and dispending. All these dielectric droplet manipulations are achieved at voltages < 100 V_rms. The frequency dependence of droplet actuation velocity in aqueous solution is discussed and the existence of surfactant molecules is believed to play an important role by realigning with the AC electric field. Finally, we present coplanar manipulation of oil and water droplets and formation of oil-in-water emulsion droplet by applying the same low voltage.     

Droplet-based microfluidic lab-on-a-chip for glucose detection

A microfluidic lab-on-a-chip (LoC) platform for in vitro measurement of glucose for clinical diagnostic applications is presented in this paper. The LoC uses a discrete droplet format in contrast to conventional continuous flow microfluidic systems. The droplets act as solution-phase reaction chambers and are manipulated using the electrowetting effect. Glucose is measured using a colorimetric enzyme-kinetic method based on Trinder’s reaction. The color change is detected using an absorbance measurement system consisting of a light emitting diode and a photodiode. The linear range of the assay is 9-100 mg/dl using a sample dilution factor of 2 and 15-300 mg/dl using a sample dilution factor of 3. The results obtained on the electrowetting system compare favorably with conventional measurements done on a spectrophotometer, indicating that there is no change in enzyme activity under electrowetting conditions.     

Miniaturization through lab-on-a-chip: Utopia or reality for routine laboratories? A review

Micro total analysis (μTAS), also called “lab-on-a-chip (LOC)” technology, promises solutions for high throughput and highly specific analysis for chemistry, biology and medicine, while consuming only tiny amounts of samples, reactants and space. This article reports selected contributions of LOC, which represent clear practical approaches for routine work, or presenting potentiality to be transferred to routine analytical laboratories. Taking into account the present LOC state-of-the-art, we identify various reasons for its scarce implementation in routine analytical laboratories despite its high analytical potential, as well as the probably main “niche” for successfully practical developments is suggested.     

Towards biochips using microstructured optical fiber sensors

In this paper we present the first incorporation of a microstructured optical fiber (MOF) into biochip applications. A 16-mm-long piece of MOF is incorporated into an optic-fluidic coupler chip, which is fabricated in PMMA polymer using a CO₂ laser. The developed chip configuration allows the continuous control of liquid flow through the MOF and simultaneous optical characterization. While integrated in the chip, the MOF is functionalized towards the capture of a specific single-stranded DNA string by immobilizing a sensing layer on the microstructured internal surfaces of the fiber. The sensing layer contains the DNA string complementary to the target DNA sequence and thus operates through the highly selective DNA hybridization process. Optical detection of the captured DNA was carried out using the evanescent-wave-sensing principle. Owing to the small size of the chip, the presented technique allows for analysis of sample volumes down to 300 nL and the fabrication of miniaturized portable devices.      

Droplet microfluidics based microseparation systems

Lab on a chip (LOC) technology is a promising miniaturization approach. The feature that it significantly reduced sample consumption makes great sense in analytical and bioanalytical chemistry. Since the start of LOC technology, much attention has been focused on continuous flow microfluidic systems. At the turn of the century, droplet microfluidics, which was also termed segmented flow microfluidics, was introduced. Droplet microfluidics employs two immiscible phases to form discrete droplets, which are ideal vessels with confined volume, restricted dispersion, limited cross-contamination, and high surface area. Due to these unique features, droplet microfluidics proves to be a versatile tool in microscale sample handling. This article reviews the utility of droplet microfluidics in microanalytical systems with an emphasize on separation science, including sample encapsulation at ultra-small volume, compartmentalization of separation bands, isolation of droplet contents, and related detection techniques.     

微液滴微流控芯片:微液滴的形成、操纵和应用

微流控芯片中形成的微液滴粒径均一、可控,与传统的连续流体系相比,具有能实现试剂的快速混合、通量更高等优点.本文介绍了微流控芯片中由微通道控制的微液滴的形成、分裂、合并、混合、分选和捕获等微液滴操纵技术,以及微液滴技术在纳米粒子、聚合物微粒的合成、纳米粒子自组装、蛋白质结晶研究和DNA、细胞分析等领域的研究进展.     

液滴微流控系统在数字聚合酶链式反应中的应用研究进展

数字聚合酶链式反应( PCR)技术近年来发展迅速。与以实时荧光定量PCR为代表的传统PCR技术相比,数字PCR技术显著提高了定量分析的精确度和灵敏度。数字PCR的快速发展与近年来微流控技术在数字PCR技术中的广泛应用有着密切的联系。早期的研究和商业化产品使用的是大规模集成流路微流控芯片,加工过程复杂且价格高昂。近年来,液滴微流控芯片被应用到数字PCR技术中,它可以在短时间内产生102~107个微液滴,每一个微液滴都是最多只含有一个目的基因片段的PCR反应器。 PCR扩增后,通过对单个微液滴的观察计数,就可以获得绝对定量的分析数据。本文综述了不同种类的液滴微流控系统在数字PCR技术中的应用,以及液滴数字PCR微流控芯片在生物、医药、环境等领域的应用。     

A homogeneous assay for protein analysis in droplets by fluorescence polarization

We present a novel homogeneous (“mix‐incubate‐read”) droplet microfluidic assay for specific protein detection in picoliter volumes by fluorescence polarization (FP), for the first time demonstrating the use of FP in a droplet microfluidic assay. Using an FP‐based assay we detect streptavidin concentrations as low as 500 nM and demonstrate that an FP assay allows us to distinguish droplets containing 5 μM rabbit IgG from droplets without IgG with an accuracy of 95%, levels relevant for hybridoma screening. This adds to the repertoire of droplet assay techniques a direct protein detection method which can be performed entirely inside droplets without the need for labeling of the analyte molecules.     

数字PCR技术的发展及应用

数字PCR(Digital PCR, dPCR)是继实时荧光定量PCR(Real-time quantitative PCR, qPCR)之后发展的高灵敏核酸绝对定量分析技术,通过把反应体系均分到大量独立的微反应单元中进行PCR扩增,并根据泊松分布和阳性比例来计算核酸拷贝数实现定量分析。与传统PCR技术相比,数字PCR 技术不依赖于标准曲线,具有更高灵敏度、准确度及高耐受性,可实现对样品的绝对定量分析。近年来,随着微流控技术日臻成熟,基于微流控技术的数字PCR技术得到了快速的发展,在基因突变检测、拷贝数变异检测、病毒微生物检测、转基因食品检测以及测序等方面均得到广泛的应用。本文对数字PCR的原理、技术发展和应用进行了概述。     

一种新型自动数字滴定管的研制

本文报道一种新型自动数字滴定管，采用马利奥特恒流器和石英数字计时器设计而成，液流无脉动、无滞后，滴定剂用量（或滴定度）用时间计量和数字显示，避免了使用容量滴定管产生的问题和困难，这种自动数字滴定管电路简单，造价低廉、操作简便，可简便地与计算机连接以实现自动化，实际应用结果令人满意。     

低背景信号的高级生物分析方法：光电化学生物分析

光电化学传感是近年来兴起并发展迅速的一种生物分析技术,其检测的主要原理是生物识别原件识别靶标物质而引起光电活性材料的光电性能变化,最终导致光电流值发生变化,从而达到检测的目的。由于光电化学生物分析中输入信号是光,输出信号是电,这赋予了此种检测方法背景信号低、灵敏度高的天然优势,这种优势所展现出来的潜力使光电化学分析在检测领域受到了越来越多的关注。本文介绍了光电化学生物传感的基本原理、光电活性材料的分类以及光电化学生物传感的传感模式,最后对其未来的发展进行了展望。     

计算机化的数字交流伏安法

电化学交流阻抗技术在电化学理论研究和测量上是十分有用的方法。Smith等人讨论了计算机辅助的交流极谱方法中许多人们感兴趣的问题,并曾使用快速富里叶变换技术同时检测多种谐波成分。近来,Bond进行了微处理器辅助的数字交流极谱仪的研究。迄今,计算机化的交流伏安仪方面的研究国内尚未见报道。本文在前文多功能仪器系统的基础上进一步建立了阶梯扫描交流伏安法并应用于实验研究,获得了满意的结果。     

Semiconductor quantum dots for bioanalysis

Semiconductor nanoparticles, or quantum dots (QDs), have unique photophysical properties, such as size-controlled fluorescence, have high fluorescence quantum yields, and stability against photobleaching. These properties enable the use of QDs as optical labels for the multiplexed analysis of immunocomplexes or DNA hybridization processes. Semiconductor QDs are also used to probe biocatalytic transformations. The time-dependent replication or telomerization of nucleic acids, the oxidation of phenol derivatives by tyrosinase, or the hydrolytic cleavage of peptides by proteases are probed by using fluorescence resonance energy transfer or photoinduced electron transfer. The photoexcitation of QD-biomolecule hybrids associated with electrodes enables the photoelectrochemical transduction of biorecognition events or biocatalytic transformations. Examples are the generation of photocurrents by duplex DNA assemblies bridging CdS NPs to electrodes, and by the formation of photocurrents as a result of biocatalyzed transformations. Semiconductor nanoparticles are also used as labels for the electrochemical detection of DNA or proteins: Semiconductor NPs functionalized with nucleic acids or proteins bind to biorecognition complexes, and the subsequent dissolution of the NPs allows the voltammetric detection of the related ions, and the tracing of the recognition events.     

Recent advances in magnetic digital microfluidic platforms

Magnetic Digital microfluidics (DMF), which enables the manipulation of droplets containing different types of samples and reagents by permanent magnets or electromagnet arrays, has been used as a promising platform technology for bioanalytical and preparative assays. This is due to its unique advantages such as simple and “power free” operation, easy assembly, great compatibility with auto control systems, and dual functionality of magnetic particles (actuation and target attachment). Over the past decades, magnetic DMF technique has gained a widespread attention in many fields such as sample-to-answer molecular diagnostics, immunoassays, cell assays, on-demand chemical synthesis, and single-cell manipulation. In the first part of this review, we summarised features of magnetic DMF. Then, we introduced the actuation mechanisms and fabrication of magnetic DMF. Furthermore, we discussed five main applications of magnetic DMF, namely drug screening, protein assays, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), cell manipulation, and chemical analysis and synthesis. In the last part of the review, current challenges and limitations with magnetic DMF technique were discussed, such as biocompatibility, automation of microdroplet control systems, and microdroplet evaporation, with an eye on towards future development.     

中位数高保真数字滤波算法

提出了一种采用中位数的滑动窗口滤波方法。所设置的窗口宽度为2m+1个数据点,使宽度大于m个数据点的峰被视为信号而无失真地保留,使宽度小于或等于m个数据点的峰被视为噪声而完全滤除。中位数法较之常用的加权和法具有滤波效果好、信号畸变小等优点。此法能保证谱峰高度和谱峰位置这两个重要参数不发生变化,故非常适宜用于仪器化学分析信号的滤波。     

Digital image-based titrations

The exploitation of digital images obtained from a CCD camera (WebCam) as a novel instrumental detection technique for titration is proposed for the first time. Named of digital image-based (DIB) titration, it also requires, as a traditional titration (for example, spectrophotometric, potentiometric, conductimetric), a discontinuity in titration curves where there is an end point, which is associated to the chemical equivalence condition. The monitored signal in the DIB titration is a RGB-based value that is calculated, for each digital image, by using a proposed procedure based on the red, green, and blue colour system. The DIB titration was applied to determine HCl and H₃PO₄ in aqueous solutions and total alkalinity in mineral and tap waters. Its results were compared to the spectrophotometric (SPEC) titration and, by applying the paired t-test, no statistic difference between the results of both methods was verified at the 95% confidence level. Identical standard deviations were obtained by both titrations in the determinations of HCl and H₃PO₄, with a slightly better precision for DIB titration in the determinations of total alkalinity. The DIB titration shows to be an efficient and promising tool for quantitative chemical analysis and, as it employs an inexpensive device (WebCam) as analytical detector, it offers an economically viable alternative to titrations that need instrumental detection.     

Micropreparative isoelectric focusing protein separation in a suspended drop

IEF protein binary separations were performed in a 12-μL drop suspended between two palladium electrodes, using pH gradients created by electrolysis of simple buffers at low voltages (1.5-5 V). The dynamics of pH gradient formation and protein separation were investigated by computer simulation and experimentally via digital video microscope imaging in the presence and absence of pH indicator solution. Albumin, ferritin, myoglobin, and cytochrome c were used as model proteins. A drop containing 2.4 μg of each protein was applied, electrophoresed, and allowed to evaporate until it splits to produce two fractions that were recovered by rinsing the electrodes with a few microliters of buffer. Analysis by gel electrophoresis revealed that anode and cathode fractions were depleted from high pI and low pI proteins, respectively, whereas proteins with intermediate pI values were recovered in both fractions. Comparable data were obtained with diluted bovine serum that was fortified with myoglobin and cytochrome c.     

电控液滴移动的研究进展

电控液滴移动是一种利用电场作用驱动液滴移动的策略,因其液滴具有响应速度快、运动速度快及路径可控等优点而备受关注,在外场刺激驱动液滴移动等基础研究和智能微流体器件等实际应用中具有重要意义.本文概述了传统电润湿驱动液滴移动的基本原理和研究进展,介绍了新型电控液滴移动的代表性成果,展望了相关研究和应用的发展前景.