SUMMARY
A microfluidic platform consisting of a two-layer PDMS system that generates and stores combinatorial droplets, enabling high-throughput screening with an integrated label-free, image-based detection system for real-time quantification of droplet contents, differentiating hundreds of unique compositions on-chip
The Unmet Need: Droplet microfluidic methods allowing scalability and real-time quantitative accuracy
- The field of microfluidics is crucial for advancing high-throughput screening and analysis in biological and chemical research. There is a pressing need for technologies that can efficiently generate, store, and analyze a vast number of unique experimental conditions, particularly for studying complex interactions like antimicrobial efficacy, cellular secretions, or cell proliferation. Such capabilities are essential for accelerating drug discovery, developing personalized therapies, and gaining deeper insights into biological systems, which current methods often struggle to provide at scale.
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Existing microfluidic platforms face significant limitations that hinder comprehensive high-throughput screening. Some automated systems, while innovative, are constrained by physical scalability and necessitate complex robotic arms for operation, increasing setup complexity. Other programmable devices are severely limited in the number of unique samples they can process, often restricted to fewer than a hundred conditions due to high-resistance array designs. Furthermore, many current approaches rely on external labels, such as fluorescent markers or colorimetric readouts, which can interfere with experiments or add complexity. Off-chip methods, while offering higher storage, often lack the ordered arrangement required for tracking diverse, heterogeneous samples, limiting their utility for combinatorial studies.
The Proposed Solution: A microfluidic platform that generates and stores thousands of unique liquid droplet combinations using label-free imaging for high-throughput analysis, enabling rapid screening of various samples
- The faculty developer developed a microfluidic platform consisting of a two-layer, PDMS-based system employing a low-resistance design with membrane valves to precisely generate and direct combinatorial droplets into designated storage chambers. It integrates an image-based, label-free detection method, utilizing a high-speed camera and MATLAB, for real-time quantification and tracking of hundreds of unique droplet compositions. Multiple fluid inputs allow for varied combinations, such as phage and bacterial samples, to be produced and stored on-chip. The scalable architecture is engineered to potentially increase throughput from hundreds to up to 20,000 unique combinations, enabling high-throughput screening without fluorescent markers or off-chip processing.
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The technology is differentiated in Its scalable design that maintains performance without the limitations of high-resistance arrays. A key advantage is its label-free identification of heterogeneous samples, eliminating the need for fluorescent markers. Moreover, the platform integrates all functions onto a single device, removing the necessity for off-chip modalities, robotic arms, or complex automation, simplifying the experimental setup compared to existing solutions.
ADVANTAGES
ADVANTAGES
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Enables high-throughput screening of up to 20,000 unique combinatorial conditions on a single chip
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Provides label-free detection and quantification of droplet contents, eliminating the need for fluorescent markers
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Offers an integrated platform for on-chip processing, simplifying the experimental workflow by removing the need for off-chip modalities or automation
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Allows for real-time monitoring and quantification of hundreds of unique droplet compositions
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Ensures precise generation and direction of droplets to designated storage chambers using membrane valves
APPLICATIONS
- Drug screening platform
- Personalized medicine development
- Antimicrobial resistance testing
- Cellular assay development
- Biomolecule production optimization
August 19, 2025
Proof of concept
Patent Pending
Licensing,Co-development
Savas Tay