Issue 19, 2024

Democratizing digital microfluidics by a cloud-based design and manufacturing platform

Abstract

Akin to the impact that digital microelectronics had on electronic devices for information technology, digital microfluidics (DMF) was anticipated to transform fluidic devices for lab-on-a-chip (LoC) applications. However, despite a wealth of research and publications, electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) DMF has not achieved the anticipated wide adoption, and commercialization has been painfully slow. By identifying the technological and resource hurdles in developing DMF chip and control systems as the culprit, we envision democratizing DMF by building a standardized design and manufacturing platform. To achieve this vision, we introduce a proof-of-concept cloud platform that empowers any user to design, obtain, and operate DMF chips (https://edroplets.org). For chip design, we establish a web-based EWOD chip design platform with layout rules and automated wire routing. For chip manufacturing, we build a web-based EWOD chip manufacturing platform and fabricate four types of EWOD chips (i.e., glass, paper, PCB, and TFT) to demonstrate the foundry service workflow. For chip control, we introduce a compact EWOD control system along with web-based operating software. Although industrial fabrication services are beyond the scope of this work, we hope this perspective will inspire academic and commercial stakeholders to join the initiative toward a DMF ecosystem for the masses.

Graphical abstract: Democratizing digital microfluidics by a cloud-based design and manufacturing platform

Article information

Article type
Perspective
Submitted
06 Qas 2024
Accepted
14 Leq 2024
First published
16 Leq 2024

Lab Chip, 2024,24, 4536-4548

Democratizing digital microfluidics by a cloud-based design and manufacturing platform

Q. L. Wang, E. H. Cho, J. Li, H. Huang, S. Kin, Y. Piao, L. Xu, K. Tang, S. Kuiry, Z. He, D. Yu, B. Cheng, C. Wu, C. Choi, K. Shin, T. Ho and C. “. Kim, Lab Chip, 2024, 24, 4536 DOI: 10.1039/D4LC00495G

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