Enabling technologies featuring nanomaterials for portable and wearable polymeric microfluidic and electronic platforms

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New and exciting research into wearable systems, functional nanomaterials, 3D printing, flexible microfluidics, and commercial polymer microfluidics, is reported daily. However, much of this research is specific to each field, despite the enormous potential that the convergence of these research areas has for the future of health care, worker safety, athletic performance, consumer devices, smart environments, disease diagnostics, and personalized medicine. The proposed research program offers a powerful and innovative approach to general-purpose microfluidic and electronic platform (MEP) development, employing new material paradigms to systematically interface microfluidics, electronics, sensors, and actuators for portable and wearable systems. The proposed research will focus on the development of innovative microfluidic and biomedical instrumentation through the invention of new enabling technologies that facilitate a concentrated and systematic approach, streamline the design process, and provide simple and cost-effective fabrication for improved device and system performance. Over the next 5 years, the proposed research will: 1. Expand our toolkit of functional nanomaterials and micropatterning techniques, including technologies based on thermoplastics (TPs) and composite polymers (CPs) with new functionality. 2. Develop combined MEPs featuring CPs and new material paradigms, including industrially-relevant TPs and textile-compatible polymers, to achieve innovative system-level platform performances. 3. Develop a library of system-level engineering building blocks of platforms, interconnects, and device packaging with well-defined functionality and interface requirements, to facilitate systematic microinstrument development across multiple disciplines. The proposed approach will be pioneering, bridging academia and industry and using cutting-edge technologies to offer practical solutions to improved platform development. The main strength of the proposed research program is its ability to provide essential and enabling technologies for on-going development of new wearable and portable MEPs, placing Canada at the forefront of sustainable development in these areas. As part of the proposed research program, trainees will develop skills vital to high technology sectors that include microfluidics, biomedicine, wearable systems, advanced materials, nanotechnology, and advanced health care. The proposed program will train Canada's next generation of technological leaders in these areas by providing both the breadth and depth required for future research and development across these multiple sectors of importance to Canada.