Coding/decoding and reversibility of droplet trains in microfluidic networks
Coding/decoding and reversibility of droplet trains in microfluidic networks
复制标题
DOI：
10.1126/science.1134514
复制
发表时间：
2007-02-09
期刊：
影响因子：
56.9
通讯作者：
Whitesides, George M.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Fuerstman, Michael J.;Garstecki, Piotr;Whitesides, George M.
悬浮在第二种不混溶液体中的一种液体的液滴移动通过微流体装置，其中通道分成两个分支，在下游重新连接。液滴基于占据每个分支的液滴数量选择路径。通道中液滴之间的相互作用导致复杂的路径选择序列。然而，通过微通道的流动的线性确保了系统的行为可以逆转。这种可逆性使得可以加密和解密在液滴之间的间隔中编码的信号。编码/解码设备是功能性微流体系统，其需要液滴以精确的方式在网络中导航，而不使用阀、开关或其他外部控制装置。
Droplets of one liquid suspended in a second, immiscible liquid move through a microfluidic device in which a channel splits into two branches that reconnect downstream. The droplets choose a path based on the number of droplets that occupy each branch. The interaction among droplets in the channels results in complex sequences of path selection. The linearity of the flow through the microchannels, however, ensures that the behavior of the system can be reversed. This reversibility makes it possible to encrypt and decrypt signals coded in the intervals between droplets. The encoding/decoding device is a functional microfluidic system that requires droplets to navigate a network in a precise manner without the use of valves, switches, or other means of external control.