DropBot: An open-source digital microfluidic control system with precise control of electrostatic driving force and instantaneous drop velocity measurement

Fobel, Ryan; Fobel, Christian; Wheeler, Aaron R.

doi:10.1063/1.4807118

Cited by 185 publications

(180 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…51 Arduino board with its associated integrated software environment provides a cost-effective yet powerful opensource platform to implement hardware control of transducers and signal acquisition from detectors, 52,53 and it has been already implemented for some microfluidic devices. 54,55 In this project, the Arduino microcontroller was integrated with a touch screen LCD (SainSmart 3.2…”

Section: E Electronic Interface For Control Of Transducers and Signamentioning

confidence: 99%

A microfluidic optical platform for real-time monitoring of pH and oxygen in microfluidic bioreactors and organ-on-chip devices

et al. 2016

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There is a growing interest to develop microfluidic bioreactors and organ-on-chip platforms with integrated sensors to monitor their physicochemical properties and to maintain a well-controlled microenvironment for cultured organoids. Conventional sensing devices cannot be easily integrated with microfluidic organ-on-chip systems with low-volume bioreactors for continual monitoring. This paper reports on the development of a multi-analyte optical sensing module for dynamic measurements of pH and dissolved oxygen levels in the culture medium. The sensing system was constructed using low-cost electro-optics including light-emitting diodes and silicon photodiodes. The sensing module includes an optically transparent window for measuring light intensity, and the module could be connected directly to a perfusion bioreactor without any specific modifications to the microfluidic device design. A compact, user-friendly, and low-cost electronic interface was developed to control the optical transducer and signal acquisition from photodiodes. The platform enabled convenient integration of the optical sensing module with a microfluidic bioreactor. Human dermal fibroblasts were cultivated in the bioreactor, and the values of pH and dissolved oxygen levels in the flowing culture medium were measured continuously for up to 3 days. Our integrated microfluidic system provides a new analytical platform with ease of fabrication and operation, which can be adapted for applications in various microfluidic cell culture and organ-on-chip devices.

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Section: E Electronic Interface For Control Of Transducers and Signamentioning

confidence: 99%

A microfluidic optical platform for real-time monitoring of pH and oxygen in microfluidic bioreactors and organ-on-chip devices

et al. 2016

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“…There are numerous examples of FOSH scientific equipment in all fields, ranging from syringe pumps [6] to self-assembling robots [7]. Examples exist in the field of biology [8][9][10][11][12], optics [13], and microfluidics [14,15]. Many open tools exist for physics and materials, including radial stretching systems with force sensors [16], a robot-assisted mass spectrometry assay platform [17], a large stage four-point probe [18], and automated microscopes [19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

General Design Procedure for Free and Open-Source Hardware for Scientific Equipment

Oberloier

Pearce

2017

Designs

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Distributed digital manufacturing of free and open-source scientific hardware (FOSH) used for scientific experiments has been shown to in general reduce the costs of scientific hardware by 90-99%. In part due to these cost savings, the manufacturing of scientific equipment is beginning to move away from a central paradigm of purchasing proprietary equipment to one in which scientists themselves download open-source designs, fabricate components with digital manufacturing technology, and then assemble the equipment themselves. This trend introduces a need for new formal design procedures that designers can follow when targeting this scientific audience. This study provides five steps in the procedure, encompassing six design principles for the development of free and open-source hardware for scientific applications. A case study is provided for an open-source slide dryer that can be easily fabricated for under $20, which is more than 300 times less than some commercial alternatives. The bespoke design is parametric and easily adjusted for many applications. By designing using open-source principles and the proposed procedures, the outcome will be customizable, under control of the researcher, less expensive than commercial options, more maintainable, and will have many applications that benefit the user since the design documentation is open and freely accessible.

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“…Devices were then assembled with an ITO-glass top plate and a chromium-glass bottom plate. An open-source, automated DMF actuation system called 'DropBot' (described in detail elsewhere 55 ) was used to program and manage the application of driving potentials of 120-140 V RMS generated by amplifying the sine wave output of a built-in function generator operating at 10 kHz. Reagents were loaded and dispensed, moved and merged as described previously 22 .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microgels on-demand

Eydelnant

Wheeler

2014

Nat Commun

Self Cite

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Three-dimensional (3D) hydrogel structures are finding use in fundamental studies of self-assembly, rheology, and 3D cell culture. Most techniques for 3D hydrogel formation are 'single pot', in which gels are not addressable after formation. For many applications, it would be useful to be able to form arrays of gels bearing mixtures of constituents and/or formed from composites of different gel materials. Here, in response to this challenge, we introduce a digital microfluidic method for 'on-demand' formation of arrays of microgels bearing arbitrary contents and shapes. On formation of the gels, each microgel is individually addressable for reagent delivery and analysis. We demonstrate the utility of the method for 3D cell culture and higher-order tissue formation by implementing the first sub-microlitre recapitulation of 3D kidney epithelialization. We anticipate this platform will enable new research that can exploit the flexible nature of this technique for forming and addressing arrays of hydrogels with unique geometries and contents.

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DropBot: An open-source digital microfluidic control system with precise control of electrostatic driving force and instantaneous drop velocity measurement

Cited by 185 publications

References 27 publications

A microfluidic optical platform for real-time monitoring of pH and oxygen in microfluidic bioreactors and organ-on-chip devices

A microfluidic optical platform for real-time monitoring of pH and oxygen in microfluidic bioreactors and organ-on-chip devices

General Design Procedure for Free and Open-Source Hardware for Scientific Equipment

Microgels on-demand

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