5086

ISURF #05086 describes a type of droplet manipulation for microfluidic devices using interface electrokinetic ion concentration polarization (ICP). ICP is a phenomenon in which ionic species are locally enriched and depleted at opposing ends of an ion selecting mechanism such as a bipolar electrode. This allows a degree of control over droplet concentration and/or composition, yielding finer control for microfluidic processes such as bioassays.

The development of applying ICP in a droplet microfluidic device allows for rapid and tunable control of solute distribution within droplets, thereby influencing the speed and sensitivity of bioassays (order of magnitude increase in reaction speed and detection limits). Cation exchange coupled with this technology would allow for extraction of reagents and products such that individual droplets can become “nanoreactors”.

This technology is related to ISURF 4548: High-throughput selective capture of biological cells by dielectrophoresis at a bipolar electrode array, and

ISURF 4774: Integrated selective capture, sequestration, fluidic isolation, electrical lysis and analysis of single cells

• Allows rapid control of droplet composition/concentration to improve reaction rates or detection limits for various assays.

• Solves current composition/concentration control issues present in microfluidics

• Method of use makes this process more appropriate for some labs

• More precise control compared to other known methods

Improved process of bioassay, gives the user more control over the process.

Patent(s) applied for