BACKGROUND:  Microfluidics offers many advantages, such as automatically performing assays and minimal reagent usage. Most lab-on-a-chip systems, however, still require interfacing with macroscale tubes for pressure driven fluid handling. This inhibits scalability and parallelization and requires excessive power consumption.

INNOVATION:  Researchers at UCLA have developed a fully miniaturized lab-on-a-chip system that performs multiplex thermal processing of discrete micro- and nano-liter sample droplets. The invention enables facile integration of localized temperature control and droplet centering mechanism in addition to basic microfluidic functionalities. Furthermore, the integrated functionalities are implemented via simple thin-film processes without complicating or lengthening the fabrication process.

POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS 

• Microfluidic lab-on-a-chip systems for chemical, biochemical, and biological assays

ADVANTAGES

• Low power consumption
• Integrated local temperature control
• Integrated sample location control
• Simple fabrication process
• Scalable and reconfigurable methodology

Reference: UCLA Case No. 2009-438