Coalescing drops in microfluidic parking networks: A multifunctional platform for drop-based microfluidics.

ABSTRACT: Multiwell plate and pipette systems have revolutionized modern biological analysis; however, they have disadvantages because testing in the submicroliter range is challenging, and increasing the number of samples is expensive. We propose a new microfluidic methodology that delivers the functionality of multiwell plates and pipettes at the nanoliter scale by utilizing drop coalescence and confinement-guided breakup in microfluidic parking networks (MPNs). Highly monodisperse arrays of drops obtained using a hydrodynamic self-rectification process are parked at prescribed locations in the device, and our method allows subsequent drop manipulations such as fine-gradation dilutions, reactant addition, and fluid replacement while retaining microparticles contained in the sample. Our devices ope

SUBMITTER: Bithi SS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4162452 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature