1. Microslots and Microfluidic Logic
Yael Maguire and Manu Prakash
Oct 12, 2006

2. , Sweedler/Whitesides et al, APL, 1997
If we make life...
how will we understand what we’ve made?
Sweedler et al, Chem Rev, 1999
, Sweedler/Whitesides et al, APL, 1997
starting to create life in the lab from scratch using biomolecules or proteins
form=function
analyze
Walton et al, AnalChem, 2003
Massin et al, JMR, 2003
(100pmols -1nmol) biomolecules

3. 8x more sensitive than best planar probe
160 um
plug
8x more sensitive than best planar probe
1014
molecules

4. Future
1010 molecules at room
temperature
100 sensors in 5mm2

5. Complexity in fluid manipulation
1960’s
Moore’s Law for Microfluidics
1960’s saw the birth of high Reynolds number fluidic logic, an all-fluidic logic family dependent on inertial properties of fluid jets. Complex machine controllers, displays and preliminary information processing units were built, competing 60’s electronics. Thus a highly complex labyrinth of macro- channels could manipulate multiple fluid jets precisely.
Complexity in integrated fluid manipulation has increase manifold since than with introduction of large, bulky robots (used in every biotech lab) and more recently microfluidics.
Modern times have seen a a rebirth of complex fluid manipulation with the introduction of microfluidic large scale integration and elastomeric pneumatic valves. It is now possible to fit 10,000 valves on a single 2cmx2cm chip controlling femtoliters of fluid. These chips require external control with 100’s of macro-sized solenoids and immense reagent to chip plumbing.
Increasing Complexity

6. Microfluidic Bubble Logic
We propose a new way of on-chip internal process control in microfluidic devices using Bubble Logic.
We demonstrate all-fluidic computation at low Reynolds number
Bubble is a bit, carrying both information and materials payload
Integration of Chemistry and Computation (process control)
Here we show AND/OR logic gates, toggle flip-flop and a Ring oscillator.
Droplet based segmented-flow reactor :
No dispersion
Rapid mixing
KHz range operation
No external control elements
Non-linear residence time
Nonlinearity
Bistability
Cascadability
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