Wang Qining Leo, Cho Eric Hyunsung, Li Jia, Huang Hsin-Chuan, Kin Sarath, Piao Yuhao, Xu Lin, Tang Kenneth, Kuiry Shounak, He Zifan, Yu Danning, Cheng Brian, Wu Chang-Chi, Choi Connor, Shin Kwanwoo, Ho Tsung-Yi, Kim Chang-Jin Cj
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
Department of Computer Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Lab Chip. 2024 Sep 24;24(19):4536-4548. doi: 10.1039/d4lc00495g.
Akin to the impact that digital microelectronics had on electronic devices for information technology, digital microfluidics (DMF) was anticipated to transform fluidic devices for lab-on-a-chip (LoC) applications. However, despite a wealth of research and publications, electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) DMF has not achieved the anticipated wide adoption, and commercialization has been painfully slow. By identifying the technological and resource hurdles in developing DMF chip and control systems as the culprit, we envision democratizing DMF by building a standardized design and manufacturing platform. To achieve this vision, we introduce a proof-of-concept cloud platform that empowers any user to design, obtain, and operate DMF chips (https://edroplets.org). For chip design, we establish a web-based EWOD chip design platform with layout rules and automated wire routing. For chip manufacturing, we build a web-based EWOD chip manufacturing platform and fabricate four types of EWOD chips (, glass, paper, PCB, and TFT) to demonstrate the foundry service workflow. For chip control, we introduce a compact EWOD control system along with web-based operating software. Although industrial fabrication services are beyond the scope of this work, we hope this perspective will inspire academic and commercial stakeholders to join the initiative toward a DMF ecosystem for the masses.
与数字微电子技术对信息技术电子设备的影响类似，数字微流控（DMF）有望改变用于芯片实验室（LoC）应用的流体设备。然而，尽管有大量的研究和出版物，但基于介电电泳（EWOD）的数字微流控尚未实现预期的广泛应用，其商业化进程也极其缓慢。通过将开发数字微流控芯片和控制系统中的技术和资源障碍认定为罪魁祸首，我们设想通过构建一个标准化的设计和制造平台，使数字微流控技术得以普及。为实现这一愿景，我们推出了一个概念验证云平台，使任何用户都能够设计、获取和操作数字微流控芯片（https://edroplets.org）。对于芯片设计，我们建立了一个基于网络的EWOD芯片设计平台，该平台具有布局规则和自动布线功能。对于芯片制造，我们构建了一个基于网络的EWOD芯片制造平台，并制造了四种类型的EWOD芯片（玻璃、纸张、印刷电路板和薄膜晶体管），以展示代工服务工作流程。对于芯片控制，我们推出了一个紧凑型EWOD控制系统以及基于网络的操作软件。尽管工业制造服务不在本工作的范围内，但我们希望这一观点能激励学术和商业领域的利益相关者加入到为大众打造数字微流控生态系统的倡议中来。
