Novel approach to microfluidic sensing and regulation for active flow control

0509723 Pi：Zonlu Susan hua，SUNY-BuffaloTitle：一种新的微流体传感和调节方法，用于主动流量控制本研究致力于基础研究，旨在开发一种新的基于电解气泡的传感机制，能够准确和灵敏地测量微流体通道内的流体流动特性。基于气泡的传感方法是基于气泡是电绝缘体，包含气泡的微流控通道的阻力是气泡大小的敏感测量，因此影响气泡大小的因素--压力、流量等。该方法将在微流控实验室芯片的功能方案中增加一组新的流量传感元件。采用气泡体积和气泡缩短率作为传感方式。将开发一系列通用传感器，包括压力传感器、流量计和新型流量调节器。这些传感器将经过详细的设计、表征和校准，以优化和提高其灵敏度和动态响应。这些活动的智力价值包括对微流体学的基本了解，以及在工程、生物技术、组合和分析化学等领域的广泛应用。更广泛的教育和外展影响涉及对本科生、研究生、少数族裔和女性学生的培训。

Abstract0509723 PI: Zonglu Susan Hua, SUNY-BuffaloTitle: Novel approach to microfluidic sensing and regulation for active flow controlThis research is focused on fundamental study aimed at developing a novel electrolytic bubble-based sensing mechanism that would enable accurate and sensitive measurement of fluid flow characteristics within the microfluidic channels. The approach to bubble-based sensing is based on that gas bubbles are electrical insulators and the resistance of a microfluidic channel containing the bubble is a sensitive measure of the bubble size, and hence factors that affect it - pressure, flow rate, etc. The approach would add a new group of flow sensing elements into the functional scheme of the microfluidic lab-chip. Both bubble volume and bubble deflation rate are utilized as the sensing modalities. A family of generic sensors including pressure sensors, flow meters, and a novel flow regulator will be developed. These sensors will be designed, characterized, and calibrated in detail towards optimizing and enhancing their sensitivity and dynamic response. Intellectual merit of the these activities include fundamental understanding of microfluidics, as well as broad applications in fields ranging from engineering, biotechnology, to combinatorial and analytical chemistry. Broader educational and outreach impact involve training of undergraduate, graduate, minority, and women students.