Printed digital microfluidic devices methods of use and manufacture thereof

摘要

Embodiments of the present disclosure digital microfluidic arrays that may be fabricated by a printing method, whereby digital microfluidic electrodes arrays are printed, via a printing method such as inkjet printing, onto a suitable substrate. In some embodiments, a substrate and/or ink is prepared or modified to support the printing of electrode arrays, such as via changes to the surface energy. In some embodiments, porous and/or fibrous substrates are prepared by the addition of a barrier layer, or, for example, by the addition or infiltration of a suitable material to render the surface capable of supporting printed electrodes. Various example embodiments involving hybrid devices formed by the printing of digital microfluidic arrays onto a substrate having a hydrophilic layer are disclosed.

主权项

1. A digital microfluidic device comprising:
a porous substrate having a surface adapted to support electrodes thereon, said porous substrate comprising:
a porous layer formed from a fibrous material; anda barrier layer provided on said porous layer, wherein said barrier layer is formed from a barrier material suitable for the formation of electrodes thereon;an array of digital microfluidic electrodes printed on said porous substrate; anda dielectric layer coating said array of digital microfluidic electrodes, wherein a surface of said dielectric layer is hydrophobic;wherein a surface roughness of said barrier layer is less than 1 micron, such that said array of digital microfluidic electrodes are suitable for transporting droplets among said digital microfluidic electrodes under electrical actuation, further wherein said barrier layer is a first barrier layer, and said porous layer is a hydrophilic layer, and said porous substrate further comprises a second barrier layer below said hydrophilic layer.