Microfluidics

Microfluidics enables precise control of fluids at the microscale, facilitating complex processes to be performed on a small chip 

Microfluidics is the technology that studies the behavior of fluids flowing through micron-sized channels and where very small amount of fluid (typically 10^-6 to 10^-12 L) is manipulated in channels with dimensions from tens to hundreds of micrometers. The fluid at micron-scale behaves differently as compared to everyday systems: the flow is laminar, diffusion dominates mixing, viscous forces outweigh inertia. These unique features of fluid at micron-scale are used in microfluidics for controlled bioreactor generation, gradient formation, diagnostics and sensing.

In our group, we use droplet microfluidics, where immiscible liquids are manipulated in microchannels to generate highly uniform double emulsions which are later transformed into polymersomes via a dewetting transition. The fluid is allowed to flow through precisely designed T-junctions, that enable high-throughput droplet generation. The droplet generation provides a platform to compartmentalize biomolecules or reagents that essentially function as thousands of independent miniaturized reactors with well-defined volume offering exceptional control over reaction parameters.

A typical microfluidic setup involves microchannels with inlets and outlets, connecting tubing, external pump and reservoir. The microfluidic chip is a key component on which all of the above element is integrated and is commonly made from a variety of materials such as glass, silicon, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). In our group, we use as PDMS as the primary material to design chips.