A method of fluid manipulation involves applying electric signals at one or more electrodes located on or adjacent to a surface in contact with a liquid that contains a surfactant. The electric field generated by the electric signals (e.g., biasing voltage) applied to the electrodes makes the liquid less wetting on the surface than the natural state and can be used to move or modify the shape of the liquid droplet placed on the surface. One embodiment makes a liquid dewet locally on a surface by applying electric signals locally on the surface so that the liquid can be electrically manipulated on a hydrophilic surface.

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for the control of fluids and, in some cases, to systems and methods for flowing a fluid into and/or out of other fluids. As examples, fluid may be injected into a droplet contained within a fluidic channel, or a fluid may be injected into a fluidic channel to create a droplet. In some embodiments, electrodes may be used to apply an electric field to one or more fluidic channels, e.g., proximate an intersection of at least two fluidic channels. For instance, a first fluid may be urged into and/or out of a second fluid, facilitated by the electric field. The electric field, in some cases, may disrupt an interface between a first fluid and at least one other fluid. Properties such as the volume, flow rate, etc. of a first fluid being urged into and/or out of a second fluid can be controlled by controlling various properties of the fluid and/or a fluidic droplet, for example curvature of the fluidic droplet, and/or controlling the applied electric field.

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for the control of fluids and, in some cases, to systems and methods for flowing a fluid into and/or out of other fluids. As examples, fluid may be injected into a droplet contained within a fluidic channel, or a fluid may be injected into a fluidic channel to create a droplet. In some embodiments, electrodes may be used to apply an electric field to one or more fluidic channels, e.g., proximate an intersection of at least two fluidic channels. For instance, a first fluid may be urged into and/or out of a second fluid, facilitated by the electric field. The electric field, in some cases, may disrupt an interface between a first fluid and at least one other fluid. Properties such as the volume, flow rate, etc. of a first fluid being urged into and/or out of a second fluid can be controlled by controlling various properties of the fluid and/or a fluidic droplet, for example curvature of the fluidic droplet, and/or controlling the applied electric field.

An electrowetting panel includes a base substrate; an electrode array layer, including a plurality of electrodes arranged into an array; an insulating hydrophobic layer; a microfluidic channel layer located on the base substrate. Each electrode of the plurality of electrodes is connected to a driving circuit, and a droplet can move along a first direction by applying an electric voltage on each electrode. The insulating hydrophobic layer is located on the electrode array layer, and the microfluidic channel layer is located on the insulating hydrophobic layer. The electrodes includes a plurality of driving electrodes and a plurality of detecting electrodes. Along the first direction, a number N of the driving electrodes is located between every two adjacent detecting electrodes, where N is a natural number. The electrowetting panel also includes a detecting chip electrically connected to the detecting electrodes.

An electrowetting panel includes a base substrate; an electrode array layer, including a plurality of electrodes arranged into an array; an insulating hydrophobic layer; a microfluidic channel layer located on the base substrate. Each electrode of the plurality of electrodes is connected to a driving circuit, and a droplet can move along a first direction by applying an electric voltage on each electrode. The insulating hydrophobic layer is located on the electrode array layer, and the microfluidic channel layer is located on the insulating hydrophobic layer. The electrodes includes a plurality of driving electrodes and a plurality of detecting electrodes. Along the first direction, a number N of the driving electrodes is located between every two adjacent detecting electrodes, where N is a natural number. The electrowetting panel also includes a detecting chip electrically connected to the detecting electrodes.

The present invention relates to systems and methods for manipulating droplets within a high through put microfluidic system.

Apparatus and methods for mixing and dispersing a dispersed phase in a medium comprise a rotating surface for receiving the medium and an atomizing apparatus positioned at the rotating surface for depositing aerosolized constituents of the dispersed phase into the medium. The medium is made receptive and the dispersed phase is aerosolized. Constituents of the aerosolized dispersed phase are deposited into the receptive medium to form a compound or composite. The medium may be deposited onto a rotating disk, and the dispersed phase may be sprayed onto the disk. A thin film can be generated on the disk to transfer, distribute, and disperse the dispersed phase. Liquid ligaments formed at the edge of the rotating disk further transfer, distribute, and disperse the dispersed phase into the medium. Ligaments may be broken into aerosols or deformed by attenuation/drawing to further promote transfer, distribution, and dispersion. A bulk composite/compound may be collected.

The invention describes a method for isolating one or more genetic elements encoding a gene product having a desired activity, comprising the steps of: (a) compartmentalising genetic elements into microcapsules; and (b) sorting the genetic elements which express the gene product having the desired activity; wherein at least one step is under microfluidic control. The invention enables the in vitro evolution of nucleic acids and proteins by repeated mutagenesis and iterative applications of the method of the invention.

The invention describes a method for isolating one or more genetic elements encoding a gene product having a desired activity, comprising the steps of: (a) compartmentalising genetic elements into microcapsules; and (b) sorting the genetic elements which express the gene product having the desired activity; wherein at least one step is under microfluidic control. The invention enables the in vitro evolution of nucleic acids and proteins by repeated mutagenesis and iterative applications of the method of the invention.

Provided herein are methods of splitting droplets containing magnetically responsive beads in a droplet actuator. A droplet actuator having a plurality of droplet operations electrodes configured to transport the droplet, and a magnetic field present at the droplet operations electrodes, is provided. The magnetically responsive beads in the droplet are immobilized using the magnetic field and the plurality of droplet operations electrodes are used to split the droplet into first and second droplets while the magnetically responsive beads remain substantially immobilized.