Micro/Nano Fluidic

Applications

Micro/Nano Fluidics

1l 1 dm3
1 l 1 mm3
1 m m

1 l

1 nl 100 m3
1 pl 10 m3
1 fl 1 m3

1 nl
1 pl

Typical size of biological cell: 1 30 m

Advantages

Brief History

MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical
Systems)
NEMS (Nano-Electro-Mechanical
Systems)

Refers to small devices that combine mechanical and

electrical components with feature sizes
Ranging from 0.1 microns (0.000 000 1 metres) to 1
millimetre

MEMS can be made from a diverse range of materials

Silicon, glass, plastic,..

MEMS are used for

Sensing (accelerometers), control, detection,

MEMS can also incorporate optics (MOEMS)

are the primary route for the use of nanotechnology

DNA nanotechnology

The appeal of DNA to nanoscientists is threefold

It is a natural nanoscale material
A large number of techniques for studying DNA are
already available
Its ability to carry information can be exploited in the
selfassembly process.

DNA is also increasingly being used to organize

other nanomaterials
Related field of RNA nanotechnology is beginning to
emerge

Graphene

Graphene has been among the fastest

growing areas of nanoscience and
technology
Two-dimensional hexagonal lattice of carbon
atoms has been found to have remarkable
physical and chemical properties
Considered for replacing the
Plastic packaging
Gigahertz transistors

Nanopores

Nanopore-based sensors
Allow DNA and other biomolecules to be analysed with
subnanometre resolution
Without the need for labels or amplification

Researchers are working on

Naturally occurring biological nanopores
Solid-state nanopores
Hybrids of the two

The ultimate goal of this research is

To be able to rapidly and reliably sequence the human
genome
Nanopore will make for speedy DNA sequencing

Nanotoxicology

Interactions between nanomaterials with

Cells, animals, humans and the environment are
remarkably complex
Researchers are still trying to understand
In detail how the physical, chemical and other
properties of nanomaterials influence these interactions
Determine the ultimate impact of nanomaterials on
health and the environment.

Organic semiconductors

Organic semiconductors are

Easy to process and can be used to make
devices that are transparent, flexible and cheap.
They are also fragile and not particularly good at
conducting electricity
Nanotechnology show that careful processing
can redress these drawbacks, without
compromising those qualities that make
organics attractive in the first place

OLED OTFT

Markets for microfluidics

Printing

Markets for microfluidics

Printing
Industrial
Automation

Flowsensors for air conditioning

(HSG-IMIT; 70.000 units in 2007)

Markets for microfluidics

Printing
Industrial
Automation

Industrial
Dispensers

Solder
Dispenser, EFD

Markets for microfluidics

Printing
Industrial
Automation

Microreactor (IMM-Mainz)

Industrial
Dispensers

Chem. Process
Engineering

Markets for microfluidics

Printing
Industrial
Automation

Micro FuelCell, Fujitsu

Industrial
Dispensers

Chem. Process
Engineering

Power
Systems

Markets for microfluidics

Printing
Industrial
Automation

Industrial
Dispensers

Chem. Process
Engineering

Power
Systems

Life Sciences
DNA

Basic anatomy of the human lung

Respiratory tract has 23 bifurcations

from trachea to alveole

Similar to a tree

Branch diameter decreases with each

bifurcation
Number of of branches increases

Typical diameters:

Main bronchial tubes: ~ 10 mm

Finest bronchial tubes: ~ 0,4 mm
Alveole: ~0,2 mm

Total diameter of all branches initially

roughly constant

Total diameter increases in lower bronchial

tubes

Thus the flow velocity decreases from

upper to lower bronchial tubes

Anatomy model of human lung

Drug inhaler Droplet

diameter: ~ 5 m

Source: HSG-IMIT

 Oral drug delivery

system
Mouth is an ideal place

to access the blood in

a non-invasive manner
inside the body with
easy access

Indication: treatment
of addiction or chronic
diseases

 Extremely limited space

(max. 2 buccal teeth)
Operational time: 2
weeks (low energy
consumption)
Re-fill of medication &
batteries
Remote control
Need for biocompatible
materials
Reliable use in harsh
environment

System overview
valve
release
opening
stainless steel
housing

semi-permeable
membrane
electronics
(PCB)
batteries
pill (drug)

flow-sensor

Results: Clinical study

Immediate increase
of drug in blood
stream
Increased
bioavailability by a
factor of 25
compared to
swallowed pills

Application specific integrated

systems

Approach needed since

microfluidics is needed
for a huge range of
different applications
Interesting from the
research point of view
Extremely challenging
from the
commercialisation point
of view
long development times
very expensive

you always start from

scratch
high risk

Examples for makrofluidic platform

dosage

plate storage

Automation
(plate handling)

Stratec AG

shaker

plate reader

plate washer

Examples for microfluidic platforms:

capillary test stripes

The
Thelow-cost
low-costgold
goldstandard
standardthe
the
MEMS
MEMSpeople
peopleand
andespecially
especially
the
theLab-on-a-Chip
Lab-on-a-Chipcommunity
community
have
haveto
tocompete
competewith!
with!

Vision: The Bio-Disk platform

Bio-Disk

droplet
of blood

Portable player

application specific disk

process control by frequency

low-cost disposable

integrated detection unit

A single molecule bridging the gap between

two metallic contacts, forming t he smallest
and ultimate limit of an electronic device

Commercial IBM giant

magnetoresistance read head

Market within the

Life Sciences only