Electrothermal Fluid Manipulation of High-Conductivity Samples for Laboratory Automation Applications.
Summary of "Electrothermal Fluid Manipulation of High-Conductivity Samples for Laboratory Automation Applications."
Electrothermal flow is a promising technique in microfluidic manipulation toward laboratory automation applications, such as clinical diagnostics and high throughput drug screening. Despite the potential of electrothermal flow in biomedical applications, relative little is known about electrothermal manipulation of highly conductive samples, such as physiological fluids and buffer solutions. In this study, the characteristics and challenges of electrothermal manipulation of fluid samples with different conductivities were investigated systematically. Electrothermal flow was shown to create fluid motion for samples with a wide range of conductivity when the driving frequency was above 100 kHz. For samples with low conductivities (below 1 S/m), the characteristics of the electrothermal fluid motions were in quantitative agreement with the theory. For samples with high conductivities (above 1 S/m), the fluid motion appeared to deviate from the model as a result of potential electrochemical reactions and other electrothermal effects. These effects should be taken into consideration for electrothermal manipulation of biological samples with high conductivities. This study will provide insights in designing microfluidic devices for electrokinetic manipulation of biological samples toward laboratory automation applications in the future.
Affiliation
Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Arizona, PO Box 210119, Tucson, AZ 85721 USA.
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: JALA (Charlottesville, Va.)
ISSN: 1540-2452
Pages: 426-432
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21180401
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jala.2010.05.004
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Automation, Laboratory
Controlled operations of analytic or diagnostic processes, or systems by mechanical or electronic devices.
Library Automation
The use of automatic machines or processing devices in libraries. The automation may be applied to library administrative activities, office procedures, and delivery of library services to users.
Microscopy, Scanning Tunneling
A type of scanning probe microscopy in which a very sharp conducting needle is swept just a few angstroms above the surface of a sample. The tiny tunneling current that flows between the sample and the needle tip is measured, and from this are produced three-dimensional topographs. Due to the poor electron conductivity of most biological samples, thin metal coatings are deposited on the sample.
Manipulation, Spinal
Adjustment and manipulation of the vertebral column.
Pyrococcus Horikoshii
Anaerobic hyperthermophilic species of ARCHAEA, isolated from hydrothermal fluid samples. It is obligately heterotrophic with coccoid cells that require TRYPTOPHAN for growth.
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