Communications and Switching in Microfluidic Systems: Pure Hydrodynamic Control for Networking Labs-on-a-Chip

Leo, Elena De; Donvito, Lidia; Galluccio, Laura; Lombardo, Alfio; Morabito, Giacomo; Zanoli, Laura Maria

doi:10.1109/tcomm.2013.100813.130332

Cited by 60 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Another recent example where it is too crucial to generate droplets at prescribed times with certain sizes is microfluidic networks . Microfluidic networking aims to realize programmable and flexible LoC devices, through controlling the droplets’ path purely based on hydrodynamic principles, i.e., channel geometry as well as droplet size and distance. , …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, the concept of microfluidic networking requires precise and independent generation of two different droplet types on a shared channel. The works so far have only introduced the theoretical principles, which have only been experimentally validated to a very limited extent. , Thus, an off-chip controlled DoD system that can be cascaded will, for the first time, allow the experimental validation of the promising concept of microfluidic networking.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Off-Chip-Controlled Droplet-on-Demand Method for Precise Sample Handling

et al. 2020

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We present a simple, stable, and highly reproducible off-chip-controlled method for generating droplets-on-demand. To induce the droplet generation, externally pre-programmed positive pressure pulses are applied to the dispersed phase input while the continuous phase channel remains at constant input pressure. By controlling solely one fluid phase, the method allows for connecting multiple independent dispersed-phase channels to a single continuous channel. Experimental results show that the method allows for a droplet generation frequency of 33 Hz and a high reproducibility of droplets with standard deviations less than 5% of the mean value. Moreover, utilization of the off-chip-controlled method results in the simplicity in chip design and allows rapid (∼5 min) and cost-efficient (0.5 USD) prototyping of the device.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Off-Chip-Controlled Droplet-on-Demand Method for Precise Sample Handling

et al. 2020

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“…In some cases it is desirable to encode and transmit information using droplets or measure droplet parameters in such a setup [3]- [5]. Dropletbased communication was presented as a theoretical principle in [6], a demonstration of first practical applications was performed in [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advanced Characterisation of a Sensor System for Droplet-Based Microfluidics

et al. 2020

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Droplet-based microfluidics show a large potential for lab-on-chip applications and new data transmission scenarios. Microfluidic chips contain channels in the submillimeter range allowing for flow of droplets. In a previous contribution, a new sensor design for droplet size and colour detection, consisting of an infrared and a colour sensor, was presented and a first proof-of-concept was shown. In this work, an in-depth analysis of both concepts is presented. In particular, we show that a high precision can be achieved when using the sensor to measure droplet sizes while using video processing software as reference. Furthermore, a colour alphabet consisting of 126 individual values is transmitted and detected using a machine learning model. The high specificity of achieved colour measurement allows both for colour coded data transmission scenarios and the analysis of colour reagents in lab-on-chip applications.

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“…Moreover, the response of bacterial receivers within microfluidic channels are experimentally reported in [ 16 ], where empirical models based on linear approximations are developed for the transient response of bacteria to pulse-amplitude-modulated molecular messages. Additionally, digital microfluidic MC networks based on droplets have been studied in [ 17 ]. Accounting for the surface-based receivers, our study targets more complicated systems that are neither linear nor time-invariant.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling convection-diffusion-reaction systems for microfluidic molecular communications with surface-based receivers in Internet of Bio-Nano Things

Kuscu

Akan

2018

PLoS ONE

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We consider a microfluidic molecular communication (MC) system, where the concentration-encoded molecular messages are transported via fluid flow-induced convection and diffusion, and detected by a surface-based MC receiver with ligand receptors placed at the bottom of the microfluidic channel. The overall system is a convection-diffusion-reaction system that can only be solved by numerical methods, e.g., finite element analysis (FEA). However, analytical models are key for the information and communication technology (ICT), as they enable an optimisation framework to develop advanced communication techniques, such as optimum detection methods and reliable transmission schemes. In this direction, we develop an analytical model to approximate the expected time course of bound receptor concentration, i.e., the received signal used to decode the transmitted messages. The model obviates the need for computationally expensive numerical methods by capturing the nonlinearities caused by laminar flow resulting in parabolic velocity profile, and finite number of ligand receptors leading to receiver saturation. The model also captures the effects of reactive surface depletion layer resulting from the mass transport limitations and moving reaction boundary originated from the passage of finite-duration molecular concentration pulse over the receiver surface. Based on the proposed model, we derive closed form analytical expressions that approximate the received pulse width, pulse delay and pulse amplitude, which can be used to optimize the system from an ICT perspective. We evaluate the accuracy of the proposed model by comparing model-based analytical results to the numerical results obtained by solving the exact system model with COMSOL Multiphysics.

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Communications and Switching in Microfluidic Systems: Pure Hydrodynamic Control for Networking Labs-on-a-Chip

Cited by 60 publications

References 44 publications

Off-Chip-Controlled Droplet-on-Demand Method for Precise Sample Handling

Off-Chip-Controlled Droplet-on-Demand Method for Precise Sample Handling

Advanced Characterisation of a Sensor System for Droplet-Based Microfluidics

Modeling convection-diffusion-reaction systems for microfluidic molecular communications with surface-based receivers in Internet of Bio-Nano Things

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