Open-source lab hardware: A versatile microfluidic control and sensor platform

Abstract

Here we describe a completely integrated and customizable microfluidic control and sensing architecture that can be readily implemented for laboratory or portable chemical or biological control and sensing applications. The compact platform enables control of 32 solenoid valves, a multitude of pumps and motors, a thermo-electric controller, a pressure controller, and a high voltage power supply. It also features two temperature probe interfaces, one relative humidity and ambient temperature sensor, two pressure sensors, and interfaces to an electrical conductivity sensor, flow sensor, and a bubble detector. The platform can be controlled via an onboard microcontroller and requires no proprietary software.

Providing Enhanced Migration Time Reproducibility with a High-Voltage-Compatible Flow Sensor for Capillary Electrophoresis

“…(363 μm), was used to reduce the voltage drop between the cathode and the detector and also to reduce the risk of bubbles getting stuck inside the flow sensor. A high voltage power supply (UM20N4/C/T/M from Spellman Corp., NY, USA) provided up to −20 kV to the cathode and was controlled and monitored using an in-house built controller board . Controlled pneumatic pressure (0–15 psi) applied to the anode reservoir allowed for capillary conditioning and hydrodynamic injection of the sample plug.…”

“…A high voltage power supply (UM20N4/C/T/M from Spellman Corp., NY, USA) provided up to −20 kV to the cathode and was controlled and monitored using an in-house built controller board. 24 Controlled pneumatic pressure (0−15 psi) applied to the anode reservoir allowed for capillary conditioning and hydrodynamic injection of the sample plug. The custom epifluorescent LIF detector used a 488 nm laser (QFLD-488− 20S, QPhotonics, MI, USA) for the excitation of the fluorescent label and a photomultiplier tube (PMT) (H10721−210, Hamamatsu, Japan) for the emission signal detection.…”

Quid Pro Flow

“…Instructions for building a flow pathway from constituent parts are available or even the components themselves, such as 3D printed syringe pumps or microfluidic chips . In terms of control systems, various approaches have been used to build automatable flow reactors, with authors often publishing code that can be adapted for use in different settings. − …”

Engineering global and local signal generators for probing temporal and spatial cellular signaling dynamics

“…PDMS is permeable to gases, allowing replication of artificial cellular microenvironments in vitro , and its flexibility enables easy integration of membrane valves and pumps to create intricate networks of microchannels ( Thorsen et al, 2002 ). This enables full automation of protocols using programming software ( White and Streets, 2018 ; Kehl et al, 2021 ). The PDMS microfluidic device consists of a bottom flow layer for sample loading and a top control layer for valve actuation ( Figure 2Ad ).…”