Accurate and Rapid Micromixer for Integrated Microfluidic Devices

Valves permit simple integration with other microfluidic chips and automated systemsTremendous control over droplet sizes and reagent ratios, regardless of fluid propertiesPreserves reagentsPrecisely controlled droplet injectionProper mixing ratios assured from very first dropletFast mixing, previously only characteristic of continuous flow systemsShort mixing times reduces the use of valuable chip surface areaAchieve mixing in a shorter distance than other droplet mixersDroplets can be mixed in a straight channel, simplifying fabricationIndependently controlled parameters (fluid properties, volume, flow rates, pressure) during droplet generationAccurate, efficient, predictable, flexibleEasily switch to different fluidsNaturally fits to digital integrated microfluidic devices

Organic/inorganic syntheses of radiolabeling probes requiring reactants with short half-livesCouple to synthesis chip to achieve synthesis and biological labeling in a single set-upAutomation of reaction condition optimizationMix a large number of reagents just by adding additional filling chambersProgrammed generation of droplets of alternating compositionStop droplet flow for imaging analysis using valves

UCLA researchers have designed and created a novel mixer for microfluidic devices that combines the advantage of rapid mixing times of droplet-based mixers (typically found in continuous flow devices) with precision and accuracy for controlling mixing volumes and ratios. The chip consists of three components: a digital droplet generator, a droplet mixer, and a gas extractor. It has been designed to easily integrate into digital microfluidic chips, (i.e. chips that use valves to control fluid flow), as well as automated systems for a variety of applications.

Patent Number: US7393985B2
Application Number: US2005110317A
Inventor: Che, Chi-Ming | Yu, Wing-Yiu | Ho, Chi-Ming
Priority Date: 20 Apr 2004
Priority Number: US7393985B2
Application Date: 19 Apr 2005
Publication Date: 1 Jul 2008
IPC Current: C07C002904 | C07C002903 | C07C002948 | C07C004126 | C07C004313 | C07C004528 | C07C004530 | C07C004540 | C07C004551 | C07C004564 | C07C0051285 | C07C005129 | C07C005131 | C07C006729 | C07C006731 | C07C006966
US Class: 568860 | 568811
Assignee Applicant: The University of Hong Kong
Title: Supported ruthenium nanoparticle catalyst for cis -dihydroxylation and oxidative cleavage of alkenes
Usefulness: Supported ruthenium nanoparticle catalyst for cis -dihydroxylation and oxidative cleavage of alkenes
Summary: For synthesizing aldehyde, ketone, carboxylic acid and cis-1,2-diol (claimed).
Novelty: Synthesizing aldehyde or ketone involves reacting oxidant with alkene in the presence of solid supported ruthenium nanoparticle

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9138700

State Of Development

The researchers have created a detailed design and fabricated a working prototype. They have demonstrated the desired operation with their fabricated microfluidic chips and are devising fluorescence imaging to quantify parameters related to mixing. The inventors have also designed and are testing a new generation of the mixer to improve the initial design as well as further optimizing the chip for the best dimensions, droplet generation cycle times, and flow rates. The researchers have also built an interface between the mixing chip and a semi-automated chemical synthesis unit to synthesize a radioactive labeling probe and immediately label a biological molecule of interest.

Background

Performing chemical reactions on the micro scale can drastically save costs by reducing reagent volumes needed. Mixing in microfluidics, however, is extremely difficult and, although many recent advances have been made, current methods for rapid mixing require careful tuning of flow rates and other parameters. Thorough and rapid mixing is essential in microfluidic reactions because it can achieve high and repeatable yields, eliminate side reactions (driven by temporary inhomogeneous reagent concentrations), and allow synthesis of molecules requiring reactants with very short half-lives (such as radiolabeling imaging probes). Especially for elastomeric valve-containing chips, stable droplet flow is rarely achieved at the very first droplet, wasting valuable reagents. The additional difficulty of knowing when stable flow has been reached also wastes reagents. Use of liquids with different viscosities, surface tension, hydrophobicity, or other physical properties further limits the accuracy of droplet size and ratios, especially for low volumes of at least one reagent. The ability to accurately control mixing volumes and ratios, but maintain rapid mixing would greatly improve the use of microfluidics to carry out chemical reactions using very small volumes.

Additional Technologies by these Inventors

• Disposable World-to-Chip Interface for Digital Microfluidics
• Novel Method of Radiofluorination
• Method For Efficient Radiolabeling Of Biomolecules

Tech ID/UC Case

21560/2008-249-0

Related Cases

2008-249-0

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