Microfluidic Tools for Bioanalysis

微流体技术是对具有微米尺寸特征的设备中的流体流动的研究和应用，由于其减少试剂消耗和分析时间的优点、将多个功能集成到单个设备上的能力以及高通量分析的潜力，微流体技术已经成为化学家、工程师、生物学家、物理学家和临床医生的热门。在这里，我们建议开发新的工具，依赖于一种特殊形式的微流体被称为“数字微流体”（DMF）。在DMF中，通过在电极阵列上施加电动力来精确控制样品和试剂液滴的位置和体积。该提案概述了以DMF生物分析方法开发为主题的广泛研究计划，涵盖两个方面：（1）将样品处理与检测相结合，以及（2）整合细胞培养和分析。流1中描述的工作将导致强大的新的“样品，分析”技术的实验室和现场工作依赖于质谱，电化学和核磁共振光谱。流2中描述的工作将使生命科学的研究人员能够提出与3D组织培养和细胞-细胞信号传导相关的问题，这些问题使用当前的工具无法探测。因此，该计划有望对基础和应用科学产生重大影响，并对人类健康产生潜在的长期利益。也许同样重要的是，这笔赠款将直接支持五名研究生的培训，并间接使其他几名研究生受益。这些学员将在积极的跨学科环境中接受指导，并将成为下一代加拿大科学家，发明家和就业创造者。

Microfluidics, the study and applications of fluid flow in devices with micrometer-sized features, has become popular for chemists, engineers, biologists, physicists, and clinicians because of the advantages of because of the advantages of reduced reagent consumption and analysis time, the capacity to integrate multiple functions onto a single device, and the potential for high-throughput analysis. Here, we propose to develop new tools relying on a particular form of microfluidics known as “digital microfluidics” (DMF). In DMF, the positions and volumes of sample and reagent droplets are precisely controlled through the application of electrodynamic forces on an array of electrodes. This proposal outlines broad research program unified by the theme of the development of DMF-enabled methods for bioanalysis, spanning two streams: (1) combining sample processing with detection, and (2) integration of cell culture and analysis. The work described in stream 1 will lead to powerful new “sample in, analysis out” techniques for lab- and field-work relying on mass spectrometry, electrochemistry, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The work described in stream 2 will enable investigators in the life sciences to ask questions related to 3D tissue culture and cell-cell signaling that are impractical to probe using current tools. Thus, this program is poised to have significant impact on basic and applied science, with potential long-term benefits for human health. Perhaps equally as importantly, this grant will directly support the training of five graduate students and will indirectly benefit several others. These trainees will be mentored in a positive, interdisciplinary environment, and will emerge as the next generation of Canadian scientists, inventors, and job creators.