Capacitive sensing for monitoring of microfluidic protocols using nanolitre dispensing and acoustic mixing
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Zhang, Yaqi
Sesen, Muhsincan
de Marco, Alex
Neild, Adrian
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The development of protocols for bio/chemical reaction requires alternate dispensing and mixing steps. Whilst most microfluidic systems use the opening of additional parts of the channel to allow the ingress of fixed volumes of fluid, this requires knowledge of the protocol before the design of the chip. Our approach of using a microfluidic valve to regulate the flow into an initially empty cavity allows for on-chip protocol development and refinement. Mixing is provided by way of surface acoustic wave excitation; this high-frequency vibration causes steady-state streaming flows. We show that capacitive sensing can be used to measure fluid levels, even if multiple fluid types are used, such that nanolitre dispensing accuracy is achieved. Also, the capacitive readout can be used to establish mixing quality and to monitor temperature fluctuations. These capabilities allow for protocols to be conducted without optical assessment, and so will allow for multiplexing, such that reactions could be conducted, simultaneously, in multiple chambers across a chip.
Date Issued
2020-08-04
Date Acceptance
2020-07-01
Citation
Analytical Chemistry, 2020, 92 (15), pp.10725-10732
ISSN
0003-2700
Publisher
American Chemical Society
Start Page
10725
End Page
10732
Journal / Book Title
Analytical Chemistry
Volume
92
Issue
15
Copyright Statement
© 2020 American Chemical Society. This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Analytical Chemistry, after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see http://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.0c01906
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32627542
Subjects
Analytical Chemistry
0301 Analytical Chemistry
0399 Other Chemical Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
United States
Date Publish Online
2020-07-06