Low-Cost Graphene-Based Digital Microfluidic System
In this work, the laser-scribing technique was used as a low-cost, rapid and facile method for fabricating digital microfluidic (DMF) systems. Laser-scribed graphene (LSG) electrodes are directly synthesized on flexible substrates to pattern the DMF electrode arrays. This facilitates the DMF electro...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-09-01
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| Series: | Micromachines |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/11/9/880 |
| _version_ | 1797552984857509888 |
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| author | Mohamed Yafia Amir M. Foudeh Maryam Tabrizian Homayoun Najjaran |
| author_facet | Mohamed Yafia Amir M. Foudeh Maryam Tabrizian Homayoun Najjaran |
| author_sort | Mohamed Yafia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this work, the laser-scribing technique was used as a low-cost, rapid and facile method for fabricating digital microfluidic (DMF) systems. Laser-scribed graphene (LSG) electrodes are directly synthesized on flexible substrates to pattern the DMF electrode arrays. This facilitates the DMF electrodes’ fabrication process by eliminating many microfabrication steps. An electrowetting test was performed to investigate the effectiveness of the LSG DMF electrodes in changing the contact angles of droplets. Different DMF operations were successfully performed using the proposed LSG DMF chips in both open and closed DMF systems. The quality and output resolution were examined to assess the performance of such patterned electrodes in the DMF systems. To verify the efficacy of the LSG DMF chips, a one-step direct assay for the detection of <i>Legionella</i><i>pneumophila</i> deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was performed on the chip without the need for any washing step. The high specificity in distinguishing a single-nucleotide mismatch was achieved by detecting target DNA concentrations as low as 1 nM. Our findings suggest that the proposed rapid and easy fabrication method for LSG DMF electrodes offers a great platform for low-cost and easily accessible point-of-care diagnostic devices. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:08:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ac1863490367418eb09969ad3060c56a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-666X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:08:58Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Micromachines |
| spelling | doaj.art-ac1863490367418eb09969ad3060c56a2023-11-20T14:39:23ZengMDPI AGMicromachines2072-666X2020-09-0111988010.3390/mi11090880Low-Cost Graphene-Based Digital Microfluidic SystemMohamed Yafia0Amir M. Foudeh1Maryam Tabrizian2Homayoun Najjaran3School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, CanadaDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0C7, CanadaDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0C7, CanadaSchool of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, CanadaIn this work, the laser-scribing technique was used as a low-cost, rapid and facile method for fabricating digital microfluidic (DMF) systems. Laser-scribed graphene (LSG) electrodes are directly synthesized on flexible substrates to pattern the DMF electrode arrays. This facilitates the DMF electrodes’ fabrication process by eliminating many microfabrication steps. An electrowetting test was performed to investigate the effectiveness of the LSG DMF electrodes in changing the contact angles of droplets. Different DMF operations were successfully performed using the proposed LSG DMF chips in both open and closed DMF systems. The quality and output resolution were examined to assess the performance of such patterned electrodes in the DMF systems. To verify the efficacy of the LSG DMF chips, a one-step direct assay for the detection of <i>Legionella</i><i>pneumophila</i> deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was performed on the chip without the need for any washing step. The high specificity in distinguishing a single-nucleotide mismatch was achieved by detecting target DNA concentrations as low as 1 nM. Our findings suggest that the proposed rapid and easy fabrication method for LSG DMF electrodes offers a great platform for low-cost and easily accessible point-of-care diagnostic devices.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/11/9/880digital microfluidicsgraphene electrodeslaser scribing |
| spellingShingle | Mohamed Yafia Amir M. Foudeh Maryam Tabrizian Homayoun Najjaran Low-Cost Graphene-Based Digital Microfluidic System Micromachines digital microfluidics graphene electrodes laser scribing |
| title | Low-Cost Graphene-Based Digital Microfluidic System |
| title_full | Low-Cost Graphene-Based Digital Microfluidic System |
| title_fullStr | Low-Cost Graphene-Based Digital Microfluidic System |
| title_full_unstemmed | Low-Cost Graphene-Based Digital Microfluidic System |
| title_short | Low-Cost Graphene-Based Digital Microfluidic System |
| title_sort | low cost graphene based digital microfluidic system |
| topic | digital microfluidics graphene electrodes laser scribing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/11/9/880 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mohamedyafia lowcostgraphenebaseddigitalmicrofluidicsystem AT amirmfoudeh lowcostgraphenebaseddigitalmicrofluidicsystem AT maryamtabrizian lowcostgraphenebaseddigitalmicrofluidicsystem AT homayounnajjaran lowcostgraphenebaseddigitalmicrofluidicsystem |