The objective of this research is to collaboratively create an integrated and hybrid lab-on-chip platform that is electronically configured on-demand and maintains its programmed configuration without electrical power. A single chip can access a vast library of microfluidic functions. The approach is balancing 3-D electrowetting and Young-Laplace forces, such that emergent control in microchannel formation and fluid transport can be realized. The intellectual merit is that new scientific models will be developed for electrofluidics. A simple graphical programming of lab-on-chip will be created, and the fields of continuous channel microfluidics and digital electrowetting transport will be united. Furthermore, the lab-on-chip community will be able to leverage the enormous infrastructure for liquid crystal display manufacturing and 4-bit computer interfacing, to deploy highly affordable and agile lab-on-chip products for rapid chemical and biological discovery. Broader impacts include integration of this project with NSF sponsored microfluidics course development, inspiring undergraduates to pursue advanced STEM degrees through the University of Cincinnati?s research co-op program, and continued involvement with NSF REU and RET programs. The significance of this proposed project stems from the need for lab-on-chip to full-fill promises to broadly reduce health-care costs, and provide remote access to patient diagnostics or environmental testing. For example, clinics could perform diagnostic tests such as immunoassays and nucleic acid assays with little laboratory support. Such agile lab-on-chip modules would allow user-defined access to laboratory tasks, all contained in a portable module that could have ergonomics as simple as an i-Phone.
The objective of this research was to collaboratively create an integrated and hybrid lab-on-chip platform that is electronically configured on-demand and maintains its programmed configuration without electrical power. A single chip could then access a vast library of microfluidic functions for applications such as fast and inexpensive medical diagnostics. The approach balances 3-D electrowetting and Young-Laplace forces, such that emergent control in microchannel formation and fluid transport is realized. The intellectual merit was that new scientific models will be developed for electrofluidics. For this, we have published several articles in journals such as Langmuir, a highly prestigious journal, ranging from the fundamentals of our techniques for virtual fluid confinement, to more applied demonstrations of the real lab-on-chip functions such as fluid/droplet transport, split, merge, etc. In summary, we demonstrated the proofs neccessary for commercial adoption, and will continue to support tech-transfer and commercialization. Broader impacts include integration of this project with the University of Cincinnati’s research co-op program for undergraduates. Several undergraduate co-ops worked on this project, several of which were inspired to go onto graduate school to pursue a research career. Also, students made collaborative visits between our lab and Oak Ridge National Lab / Univ. Tennesse, allowing them to broaden their experience while working on this project. This project also led to international collaboration and publication, including work with the internally known modeling group of Julia Yeomans in the UK.
