A microfluidic device includes a bottom electrode, a dielectric layer on the bottom electrode, one or more top electrodes on a region of the dielectric layer, Each of the one or more top electrodes has a sidewall that forms a sidewall angle with an outer surface of the dielectric layer that is less than 180 degrees. The sidewall of each of the one or more top electrodes and a portion of the outer surface of the dielectric layer adjacent to the sidewall define a microchannel region for transporting an open microchannel of a fluid. Such microfluidic devices may enable transport of small microchannels using low voltages.

The present disclosure provides a substrate for driving droplets, a manufacturing method thereof, and a microfluidic device. The substrate includes a first base substrate a plurality of leads on the first base substrate a plurality of driving electrodes on a side of the plurality of leads away from the first base substrate and a shielding electrode on the side of the plurality of leads away from the first base substrate and grounded. Each of the plurality of leads is electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of driving electrodes, an orthographic projection of the shielding electrode on the first base substrate and an orthographic projection of at least one of the plurality of leads on the first base substrate at least partially overlap, and the shielding electrode is electrically insulated from the plurality of driving electrodes.

A device for determining the amount or concentration of an analyte in a fluid sample and a flow rate of the fluid sample in a channel is provided. The device includes a chamber including a channel and an opening the channel in fluid communication with the opening. The device further includes a wicking component positioned adjacent to the opening configured to receive an amount of fluid from the channel. The device may further include an analyte sensor positioned on the wicking component, the analyte sensor configured to detect an analyte in fluid in contact with the analyte sensor, wherein the wicking component is configured to contact the amount of fluid with the analyte sensor. Alternatively the device may include at least one pair of electrodes configured to determine a flow rate of the fluid in the channel.

Provided is a channel device that is capable of increasing the concentration of fine particles in a liquid only by use of fluid-dynamic flows without relying on electrostatic interactions. A channel device (1) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: a main channel (11) configured to allow a liquid containing fine particles to flow therethrough; a chamber (15) that is provided at an end of the main channel (11) and that is configured to store target fine particles which have increased in concentration; and a side channel (12) that is connected to a side face of the main channel (11) and that is configured to allow unwanted liquid to drain therethrough, wherein at least one of a height and a width of the side channel (12) is smaller than a particle size of the fine particles.

In a method for creating hydrophilic surfaces or surface regions on one or more silicon surfaces of a substrate, a vapour phase of hydrogen peroxide is generated in a reactor by heating an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution. The substrate having the silicon surface or surfaces to be treated is exposed to the vapour phase, whereby a hydrophilisation of the silicon surfaces in achieved.

The present invention discloses a microstructured discrimination device for separating hydrophobic-hydrophilic fluidic composites comprising particulate and/or fluids in a fluid flow. The discrimination is the result of surface energy gradients obtained by physically varying a textured surface and/or by varying surface chemical properties, both of which are spatially graded. Such surfaces discriminate and spatially separate particulate and/or fluids without external energy input. The device of the present invention comprises a platform having bifurcating microchannels arranged radially. The lumenal surfaces of the microchannels may have a surface energy gradient created by varying the periodicity of hierarchically arranged microstructures along a dimension. The surface energy gradient is varied in two regions. In one pre-bifurcation region the surface energy gradient generates a fluid flow. In the other post-bifurcation region, there is a difference in surface energy proximal to the bifurcation such that different flow fractions are divided into separate channels in response to different surface energy gradients in each of the post-bifurcation channels. Accordingly, fluids of different hydrophobicity and/or particulate of different hydrophobicity are driven into separate channels by a global minimization of the fluid system energy.

Devices and methods for multi-well plate liquid distribution are provided. Devices herein provide a plurality of dispensing stations configured to receive and dispense or disburse liquid to the wells of a multi-well plate. The dispensing stations include dispensing surfaces configured to receive liquid droplets dispensed by manual or automatic pipettes. The dispensing surfaces are configured to retain received liquids until force is applied and distribution to the wells of the multi-well plate occurs. Devices and methods provided herein increase the consistency of laboratory results in procedures requiring liquid distribution.

Provided is an apparatus for inducing and/or controlling flow of a fluid within a microchannel in a microfluidic device. The apparatus includes a fluid reservoir configured for holding a volume of fluid to be transported through said microfluidic channel and also configured for fluid connection to an inlet of said microfluidic channel. The apparatus also includes an evaporation reservoir configured for fluid connection to an outlet of said microfluidic channel. The evaporation reservoir includes at least one wetting, wicking or hydrophilic structure positioned at least partly within the reservoir. The wetting, wicking, or hydrophilic structure is capable of absorbing or conducting a fluid present in the microfluidic channel via wicking action or capillary force and maintaining a substantially constant volume of fluid in the evaporation reservoir. In use, evaporation of fluid at the outlet results in fluid being drawn from the fluid reservoir through the microfluidic channel to thereby create a flow of the fluid in the microfluidic channel.

A microfluidic arrangement for manipulating fluids is provided. The microfluidic arrangement comprises a substrate, a first fluid and a second fluid, which is immiscible with the first fluid. The first fluid is arranged to be at least partially covered by the second fluid. The first fluid is arranged in a desired shape on an unpatterned surface of the substrate. The first fluid is retained in said shape by a fluid interface between the first and second fluids. A microfluidic arrangement comprising an array of drops is also provided. The microfluidic arrangement comprises a substrate, a first fluid and a second fluid, which is immiscible with the first fluid. The first fluid is arranged to be at least partially covered by the second fluid. The first fluid is arranged to be covered at least partially by the second fluid. The first fluid is arranged in a given array of drops on an unpatterned surface of the substrate. Each drop cross section area having a (height:width) aspect ratio of (1:2) or less. A method of fabricating a microfluidic arrangement for manipulating fluids is also provided. The method comprises arranging a first fluid on an unpatterned surface of a substrate in a desired shape. The method also comprises arranging a second fluid, which is immiscible with the first fluid, to cover the first fluid at least partially. The first fluid is retained in said shape by a fluid interface between the first and second fluids. The method also comprises drying the first fluid to form a residue in said shape on the substrate.

The present invention relates to extended release microparticles comprising a drug, and a preparation method therefor, and when the extended release microparticles comprising a drug are administered in order to replace conventional drugs that should be administered daily or monthly, the drug administration effect can be continuously maintained for one week to three months. In addition, the drug administration effect is maintained for a long time and, simultaneously, microparticles are prepared so as to have the average diameter of a fixed micro-size, and thus an effective drug concentration can be constantly maintained by controlling the release of the drug from the microparticles, and a foreign body sensation and pain can be reduced during drug administration since microparticles having a uniform size are included during application as an injectable drug.