Disposable World-to-Chip Interface for Digital Microfluidics

Summary

Researchers at UCLA have designed a disposable system that allows the automated delivery and retrieval of micro-liter sized liquid sample reagents to and from a digital microfluidic chip.

Background

Innovation

Researchers from UCLA’s Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology have developed a system for interfacing digital microfluidic chips with external vials for the delivery and retrieval of liquid reagents. The system is capable of preparing and delivering multiple reagents of specific volumes less than 20 μL to the digital microfluidic chip. The digital microfluidic chip can manipulate the discrete droplets of reagents using electric fields to initiate various chemical reactions. The novel interface system can then retrieve and purify the samples, all in a software-controlled automated fashion that eliminates human-induced error. The automated external vial system prevents cross-contamination of reagents and removes the need for manual interfacing (e.g. pipetting) for sample preparation, loading, and collection. Finally, this interface design conveniently allows for disposable cassettes comprised of inexpensive materials.

Applications

Advantages

State Of Development

A working prototype has been developed and is currently being used for experiments in radiochemistry for PET probe synthesis.

Patent Status

Related Materials

• GJ Shah, P-Y Keng, S Chen, MR Javed, H Ding, S Sadeghi, C-J Kim, RM van Dam, “Integrated microchemistry platform: Automation of multi-reagent loading, on-chip high temperature reactions, and product extraction.” Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Microchemistry and Microsystems, 2012.
• Shah, Gaurav, Javed, Mohammed, Yang, Anqiz, Keng, Pei Yuin, van Dam, R. Michael, “Integration of [F-18]fluoride pre-concentration into a digital microfluidics-based radiosynthesízer for the benchtop.” International Society of Nuclear Medicine Annual Meeting, 2013.
• GJ Shah, S Chen, P-Y Keng, S Sadeghi, C-J Kim, RM van Dam, “Automation of a digital microfluidic system for repeatable radiosynthesis of 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ([18F]FDG) and other tracers.” The Sixth Annual World Imaging Conference, 2013.
• GJ Shah, J Lei, S Chen, C-J Kim, P-Y Keng, RM van Dam, “Automated injection from EWOD digital microfluidic chip into HPLC purification system.” 16th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences, 2012.