INTEGRATED LIQUID AND DROPLET DEP FOR LAB ON A CHIP APPLICATIONS

We demonstrate the integration of Liquid Dielectrophoresis (DEP) and Droplet DEP which provides automated sample handling and manipulation capabilities for surface microfluidic systems. High-speed Liquid DEP (L-DEP) actuation can generate multiple equi-volume nano-liter droplets from a given larger sample droplet, while Droplet DEP (D-DEP) actuation facilitates further manipulation and transport of the nano-liter droplets to an on-chip reaction site. The mixing capabilities of the integrated L-DEP and D-DEP actuation scheme is further manifested through a fluorescent microbead assay while the applicability of the present actuation scheme for achieving parallel and multiplexed fluidic actuation is also explored.