Communication
Polymer dual ring resonators for label-free optical biosensing using microfluidics
We demonstrate a gapless polymer resonator microfluidic sensor configuration that enables simple low-cost fabrication of optofluidic systems.
Communication
Acoustically controlled enhancement of molecular sensing to assess oxidative stress in cells
We demonstrate a microfluidic platform for the controlled aggregation of colloidal silver nanoparticles using surface acoustic waves (SAWs), enabling surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) analysis of a cell based model for oxidative damage.
Tuneable nanochannel formation for sample-in/answer-out devices
Control of the dielectric breakdown of PDMS was achieved by limiting the current during the breakdown process. This enabled tuning of the nanochannel pore size and hence their permeability for molecules of different molecular weights. This method enabled the analysis of the drug quinine from whole blood in 3 min using a simple, disposable microfluidic device.
Microfluidic fabrication of photo-responsive hydrogel capsules
Microcapsules, whose membrane is composed of thermo-sensitive hydrogels and gold nanorods, enable the remote and reversible control of membrane permeability.
Manipulation of viscous all-aqueous jets by electrical charging
A folded viscous all-aqueous jet can be straightened and widened by charging in a DC electric field.
Why can artificial membranes be fabricated so rapidly in microfluidics?
Due to the inherent advection in droplet based microfluidics artificial membranes can be formed extremely rapidly by contacting lipid stabilized water droplets in a surrounding oil phase.
Multiplexed surface micropatterning of proteins with a pressure-modulated microfluidic button-membrane
We report the flow-based in situ patterning of multiple proteins in microfluidic channels by simply tuning the actuation pressure of a microfluidic button-membrane.
Membraneless glucose /O2 microfluidic biofuel cells using covalently bound enzymes
(1) COOH– or NH2–carbon nanotube electrodes for microfluidic biofuel cells. (2) Enzymes grafting using cross-linking or covalent amide bonds. (3) Covalent binding enables creation of glucose/O2 microfluidic biofuel cells. (4) CotA laccase from B. subtilis can be used as a cathodic catalyst for biofuel cells.
Microfluidic free-flow electrophoresis chips with an integrated fluorescent sensor layer for real time pH imaging in isoelectric focusing
Free flow electrophoresis microchips with an integrated pH sensor layer are presented that allow for on-line determination of isoelectric points.
Assembling magneto-plasmonic microcapsules using a microfluidic device
Magneto-plasmonic microcapsules were prepared by the assembly of gold and γ-Fe2O3 magnetic nanoparticles at the oil–water interface of microdroplets generated in a microfluidic device.
Micromotors with built-in compasses
Magnetized iron containing microjets can sense the direction of an external magnetic field and align the directionalities of their movements accordingly.
Lab-on-a-Chip device with laser-patterned polymer electrodes for high voltage application and contactless conductivity detection
A laser-patterned microchip electrophoresis device with integrated polymer electrodes for DC high voltages and AC capacitively-coupled contactless conductivity detection was developed.
Lab-chip HPLC with integrated droplet-based microfluidics for separation and high frequency compartmentalisation
Sequential operations of separation under high pressure, compartmentalisation and concentration counter were conducted on a monolithic chip.
About this collection
The peer-reviewed articles in this ChemComm web themed issue will highlight recent cutting-edge achievements in the exciting field of microfluidics.
The guest editors of the issue are Andrew deMello (ETH Zurich, Switzerland), Florian Hollfelder (University of Cambridge, UK) and Klavs Jensen (MIT, USA).
Articles in this web themed issue will be added below as soon as possible, after they are published.