Question

 

REGARDING MICROFLUIDICS

1) Discuss how the technology came to be and what preceded it.

2) What were the innovations that allowed this technology to come into use?

3)What are the benefits of it compared to previous approaches? What are some of the drawbacks to it?

Answer 1

1) Microfluidics is the technology which was emerged in the beginning of 1980 and it is used in the development of inkjet printheads which also used to develop lab-on-a-chip technology, micro-propulsion, DNA chips, and micro-thermal technologies. It preceded in the 1980 with pratical application in designing system with low volume of fluids in order to achieve automation,high- throughout screening, and mutiplexing.

2) Innovations involved that allowed this technology to come into use were revolutionizing DNA analysis (e.g., polymerase chain reaction and high-throughput sequencing), proteomics, and molecular biology procedures for enzymatic analysis (e.g., glucose and lactate assays). The basic idea of innovation involved development of biochips to assay operations like detection and sample pre-treatment would takeplace on one chip.

3)   Advantage of Microfluidics are:

- Faster reaction time

- Enhanced Temperature control

- Enhanced analytical sensitivity

- Portibility and easier automation

- Enhanced detection sensitivity and increased reaction rate

Drawbacks of Microfluidics are:

- Clogging

- Due to laminar flow, mixing only takes place by diffusion

- Possible evaporation and drying up process takes place

- Larger capillary forces