An integrated electrothermal processor for portable lab-on-a-chip applications

[09:30900 . wong]该项目的目标是阐明电热流，这是由于焦耳加热引起的非均匀流体特性的存在而产生的电力驱动的流体运动，朝着实现芯片实验室应用的电热处理器的方向发展。电热流的微流控操作相关的点护理生物医学分析的使用将进行审查。智力优势：将采用理论（尺度分析和格林函数）和实验（微粒子图像测速和热致变色液晶）相结合的方法系统地研究电热流的耦合动力学。边界元方法将用于揭示相关操作参数（如电场强度和频率、缓冲电导率和电极配置）对流动的影响。一个能够促进混合、浓缩和分离的同心电极布置将被应用于(i)表征电热流和（ii）确定电热流在各种生物应用中的潜在效用。电热流在关键过程中的潜在用途，如DNA杂交和细菌捕获，将进行研究。更广泛的影响：虽然微流体的出现为芯片上的实验室应用带来了希望，但即时诊断系统的自动化样品制备的挑战仍然存在。这项研究直接解决了这一挑战。这项研究将在几个教育和推广方面进行整合，如课程和实验室开发，向本科生和少数民族学生提供研究机会，以及向K-12学生和高中教师推广。

0930900WongThe goal of this project is to elucidate electrothermal flow, which is fluid motion driven by electrical forces that arise from the presence of non-uniform fluid properties that develop in response to Joule heating, toward the realization of an electrothermal processor for lab-on-a-chip applications. The use of electrothermal flow for microfluidic operations relevant to point-of-care biomedical analyses will be examined.Intellectual Merit: A combined theoretical (scaling analysis and Greens function) and experimental (micro particle image velocimetry and thermochromic liquid crystal) approach will be taken to systematically investigate the coupled dynamics of electrothermal flow. The boundary element method will be used to unravel the influence of interrelated operating parameters such as the electric field strength and frequency, the buffer electrical conductivity, and the electrode configuration, on the flow. A concentric electrode arrangement, which is capable of promoting mixing, concentration, and separation, will be applied to both (i) characterize the electrothermal flow and (ii) determine the potential utility of electrothermal flow in various biological applications. The potential use of electrothermal flow in key processes, such as DNA hybridization and bacteria trapping, will be investigated. Broader Impact: While the advent of microfluidics holds promise for lab-on-a-chip applications, the challenge of automating sample preparation for point-of-care diagnostic systems remains. This study directly addresses this challenge. The research will be integrated across several educational and outreach fronts such as course and laboratory development, exposure of undergraduate and minority students to research opportunities, and outreach to K-12 students and high school teachers.