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Iowa State University researchers have developed a portable system to perform droplet operations such as transport, mixing, merging, dispensing, and particle separation from liquid droplets. The system uses two electrical motors to tilt a planar platform at pre-specified angles, thereby allowing multiple droplets to move in pre-decided patterns.

The invention is a portable system to perform droplet manipulations such as transport, mixing, dispensing, and particle separation from liquid droplets.  The novelty is in the methods of moving droplets using gravitational force and mechanical jerks.  The design of hydrophilic patterns, along with the gravitational and mechanical tilting of the platform, help move the droplets.  The utility of this invention is the ease of use and low-cost compared to the existing technology being used today.  This system can help automate a diverse range of applications in molecular diagnostics of physiological samples.

• Portable, cost efficient design compared to currently available automated liquid handling systems

• Uses mechanical jerks and gravity to move droplets vs. current systems which use high electrical voltages, laser beams or vibrations from sound generating devices

• Utilizes unique techniques of printing patterns of specific shapes and sizes on a low-cost transparency film that has been treated to provide hydrophobic and hydrophilic areas

Immunology, protein chemistry, biomarker identification and molecular diagnosis of physiological samples