Research highlights: surface-based microfluidic control

Oladunni Adeyiga

doi:10.1039/c5lc90071a

Return

Research highlights: surface-based microfluidic control

2015-01-01

PRE

DOI：10.1039/c5lc90071a

Original

Original request for help

Save

Abstract

En 中文

Microfluidic systems are often dominated by their surfaces because of the high surface area to volume ratios in microchannel flows or drop-based systems. Here we highlight recent work on engineering and exploiting surface effects to control the formation and motion of microdrops. We highlight work using precisely microstructured wetting surfaces to repel all manner of liquids even when the liquid-air surface tension is low. In a second paper, selective capillary filling and draining is used to pattern liquid and cell-laden gels for 3D culture. A final paper making use of vapor-driven surface tension effects to drive the motion of drop ensembles is also examined, exploring a new mechanism for drop control - including motion and merging. Surface-driven motion and patterning has been a widely successful area in microfluidics (e.g. electrowetting or patterned self-assembled monolayers) and recent work is extending into new directions that, once well-understood, should enable new applications.

AI Summary

Key information extracted from the uploaded paper, including a brief overview, abstract, background, key highlights, visual analysis, and future outlook.