Role of Digital Microfluidics in Enabling Access to Laboratory Automation and Making Biology Programmable

Kothamachu, Varun B.; Zaini, Sabrina; Muffatto, Federico

doi:10.1177/2472630320931794

Cited by 19 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 131 publications

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“…Liquid handling by digital microfluidics (DMF) has developed into an important tool in a variety of bioanalytical research areas. − While different concepts exist, DMF most commonly involves the movement of single drops on an electrode array based on the physical phenomenon of electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD). A key feature of this technology is that minute amounts of liquid can be manipulated without using a micropipette, while control over all individual drops is retained and spatial isolation to prevent any undesired mixing is guaranteed .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Digital Microfluidics Supported Microproteomics for Quantitative Proteome Analysis of Single Caenorhabditis elegans Nematodes

et al. 2022

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Miniaturization of sample preparation, including omissible manual sample handling steps, is key for reproducible nanoproteomics, as material is often restricted to only hundreds of cells or single model organisms. Here, we demonstrate a highly sensitive digital microfluidics (DMF)-based sample preparation workflow making use of single-pot solid-phase enhanced sample preparation (SP3) in combination with high-field asymmetric-waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS), and fast and sensitive ion trap detection on an Orbitrap tribrid MS system. Compared to a manual in-tube SP3-supported sample preparation, the numbers of identified peptides and proteins were markedly increased, while lower standard deviations between replicates were observed. We repeatedly identified up to 5000 proteins from single nematodes. Moreover, label-free quantification of protein changes in single Caenorhabditis elegans treated with a heat stimulus yielded 45 differentially abundant proteins when compared to the untreated control, highlighting the potential of this technology for low-input proteomics studies. LC-MS data have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange Consortium with the data set identifier PXD033143.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Digital Microfluidics Supported Microproteomics for Quantitative Proteome Analysis of Single Caenorhabditis elegans Nematodes

et al. 2022

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“…In contrast to the advantages of using such devices, there are some technical difficulties in the practical application of this technology. This is also the reason why digital microfluidics [ 24 ], or automatic pipetting [ 18 ], or automatic dispenser to handle and inject small volume [ 25 , 26 ], have been suggested, also with the aim to minimizing loss of sample. Indeed, for a beginner, the filling of the microfluidic channel can be extremely challenging.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Microfluidic Trainer: Design, Fabrication and Validation of a Tool for Testing and Improving Manual Skills

et al. 2020

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Microfluidic principles have been widely applied for more than 30 years to solve biological and micro-electromechanical problems. Despite the numerous advantages, microfluidic devices are difficult to manage as their handling comes with several technical challenges. We developed a new portable tool, the microfluidic trainer (MT), that assesses the operator handling skills and that may be used for maintaining or improving the ability to inject fluid in the inlet of microfluidic devices for in vitro cell culture applications. After several tests, we optimized the MT tester cell to reproduce the real technical challenges of a microfluidic device. In addition to an exercise path, we included an overfilling indicator and a correct infilling indicator at the inlet (control path). We manufactured the MT by engraving a 3 mm-high sheet of methacrylate with 60W CO2 laser plotter to create multiple capillary paths. We validated the device by enrolling 21 volunteers (median age 33) to fill both the MT and a commercial microfluidic device. The success rate obtained with MT significantly correlated with those of a commercial microfluidic culture plate, and its 30 min-continuous use for three times significantly improved the performance. Overall, our data demonstrate that MT is a valid assessment tool of individual performances in using microfluidic devices and may represent a low-cost solution to training, improve or warm up microfluidic handling skills.

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“…Droplet-based digital microfluidics addresses many requirements for lab-on-a-chip systems through the ability to process a large number of samples using reduced sample and reagent volumes while increasing detection sensitivity. Digital microfluidics has seen much development over the last couple of decades [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] with an increase in applications utilizing digital microfluidic technologies such as synthetic biology, 8 single cell analysis, 9,10 proteomic analysis, 11 genomic sequencing, 12 and diagnostics. 13 As many of these technologies are becoming further developed and commercialized, the range of applications that digital microfluidics can tackle continues to grow.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Co-planar light-actuated optoelectrowetting microfluidic device for droplet manipulation

Loo

Pei

2021

J. Optical Microsystems

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We report on a co-planar light-actuated digital microfluidics device that features a metal mesh grid integrated on the device surface to allow droplets to be exposed from above. We discuss a theoretical circuit model for our co-planar optoelectrowetting (OEW) design that allows for the optimization of droplet actuation while maintaining reliable droplet movement. Basic droplet manipulations such as merging and parallel actuation of droplets are achieved at speeds of up to 4.5 cm∕s. The co-planar OEW device design benefits from having an open top design that allows for a wider range of system integration configurations than previous generations of OEW devices. A droplet-on-demand dispensing system from above is integrated with the co-planar OEW device to demonstrate the versatility of this optofluidic platform. The ability to inject, collect, and position individual droplets to form large-scale droplet arrays of up to 20 × 20 is achieved. © The Authors. Published by SPIE under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported License. Distribution or reproduction of this work in whole or in part requires full attribution of the original publication, including its DOI.

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Role of Digital Microfluidics in Enabling Access to Laboratory Automation and Making Biology Programmable

Cited by 19 publications

References 131 publications

Digital Microfluidics Supported Microproteomics for Quantitative Proteome Analysis of Single Caenorhabditis elegans Nematodes

Digital Microfluidics Supported Microproteomics for Quantitative Proteome Analysis of Single Caenorhabditis elegans Nematodes

The Microfluidic Trainer: Design, Fabrication and Validation of a Tool for Testing and Improving Manual Skills

Co-planar light-actuated optoelectrowetting microfluidic device for droplet manipulation

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