03 July 2012. Our critical review "Photo-actuation of liquids for light-driven microfluidics: state of the art and perspectives" has just been accepted for publication in Lab on a Chip.
Abstract: Using light to control liquid motion is a new paradigm for the actuation of microfluidic systems. We review here the different principles and strategies to induce or control liquid motion using light, which include the use of radiation pressure, optical tweezers, light-induced wettability gradient, thermocapillary effect, photosensitive surfactants, chromocapillary effect, optoelectrowetting, photocontrolled electroosmotic flows and optical dielectrophoresis. We analyze the performance of these approaches to control using light many kinds of microfluidic operations involving discrete pL- to µL-sized droplets (generation, driving, mixing, reaction, sorting) or fluid flows in microchannels (valve operation, injection, pumping, flow rate control). We show that a complete toolbox is now available to control microfluidic systems by light. We finally discuss the perspectives of digital optofluidics as well as microfluidics based on all optical fluidic chips and optically reconfigurable devices.
Reference:
Abstract: Using light to control liquid motion is a new paradigm for the actuation of microfluidic systems. We review here the different principles and strategies to induce or control liquid motion using light, which include the use of radiation pressure, optical tweezers, light-induced wettability gradient, thermocapillary effect, photosensitive surfactants, chromocapillary effect, optoelectrowetting, photocontrolled electroosmotic flows and optical dielectrophoresis. We analyze the performance of these approaches to control using light many kinds of microfluidic operations involving discrete pL- to µL-sized droplets (generation, driving, mixing, reaction, sorting) or fluid flows in microchannels (valve operation, injection, pumping, flow rate control). We show that a complete toolbox is now available to control microfluidic systems by light. We finally discuss the perspectives of digital optofluidics as well as microfluidics based on all optical fluidic chips and optically reconfigurable devices.
Reference:
Photo-actuation of liquids for light-driven microfluidics: state of the art and perspectives
D. Baigl*
Lab Chip 2012,12, 3637-3653
- doi : 10.1039/C2LC40596B