Lab-on-a-chip realizes potential

hi_5207 — Analyses of liquid samples that once required a full-sized laboratory can now be completed on a disposable plastic chip equipped with narrow fluidic channels and tiny sensors.

A portable instrument that replaces a full-size laboratory provides accurate multi-element analysis in less than a minute

Engineers from the A*STAR Institute of Materials Research and Engineering and colleagues at the University of Basel, Switzerland, have designed and developed a compact, portable analytical instrument that can detect multiple ions and molecules down to a level of 300 parts per billion (ppb) in less than a minute. The machine, based on lab-on-a-chip technology, needs only drop-sized liquid samples. The analysis is very quick, precise and sensitive, and can be performed remotely as no direct contact with the solution is necessary. As such, the device has widespread potential applications in the water, food and beverage, agriculture, environmental, pharmaceutical and medical industries.

“The instrument is now ready for commercialization,” says Kambiz Ansari, who led the research. “In this well-studied field, it is one of only a handful of actual lab-on-a-chip instruments reported so far.”

The easy-to-operate machine, which weighs only 1.2 kg, combines microchip electrophoresis (MCE) with a sensing technology known as a dual capacitively-coupled contactless conductivity detector (dC4D). The system first uses electrophoresis to separate ions and then detects the ions using dC4D. All analyses are performed in microfluidic channels consisting of capillaries inside polycarbonate plastic chips that are narrower than a human hair.

The beauty of the dC4D technology is its simplicity: it relies on remote conductivity measurements via a pair of electrodes. One electrode sends radio-frequency signals through a channel to the second electrode, and the signal received is read by a computer. Because the ions have charge, their resistance drops as they pass through the microfluidic channel, resulting in sudden peaks. Specially designed software then analyzes the data to provide both qualitative and quantitative information.

The Latest on: Lab-on-a-chip

[google_news title=”” keyword=”Lab-on-a-chip” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]

via Google News

Liquid metal pump a breakthrough for micro-fluidics

The Latest on: Lab-on-a-chip

Startup’s chip design aims to boost satellite computing power
on May 17, 2024 at 2:05 pm
WASHINGTON — A Carnegie Mellon University spinoff has developed an energy-efficient computer chip architecture that it claims consumes a fraction of the power required by traditional chips, ...
Q&A: How advanced chip packaging can help redesign the future of semiconductors
on May 8, 2024 at 10:28 am
The phrase "advanced chip packaging" might conjure images of a fancy Pringles can. For those who manufacture semiconductors—also known as integrated circuits, chips or microchips—it represents a new ...
Grounded: How To Get The Haze Lab BURGL Chip
on May 1, 2024 at 4:05 am
Obtaining the BURG.L chip from the Haze Lab in Grounded requires players to complete a few steps before claiming the prize. Your browser does not support the video ...
Grounded: How To Get The Haze Lab BURGL Chip
on April 29, 2024 at 5:00 pm
This guide details where the Haze lab is, how best to get there, how to complete it, and how to tackle its challenging boss to reach the BURG.L Chip. Updated April 30th, 2024 by Russ Boswell ...
The White Chip at BOWNE'S LAB
on March 19, 2024 at 5:00 pm
1 Review Roundup: CABARET AT THE KIT KAT CLUB Opens on Broadway 2 Review Roundup: THE HEART OF ROCK AND ROLL Opens On Broadway ...
Lab on a Chip
on November 9, 2022 at 4:40 am
These must represent a significant development in the particular field, and are judged according to originality, quality of scientific content and contribution to existing knowledge. Although there is ...
New approach to complete automation in sizing and quantitation of DNA and proteins by the Automated Lab-on-a-Chip Platform from Agilent Technologies
on October 25, 2022 at 9:48 am
The newly introduced Agilent 5100 Automated Lab-on-a-Chip Platform (ALP) offers a high-throughput system to overcome the limitations of slab gel analysis in protein and DNA sizing and quantitation.
2021 Lab on a Chip outstanding peer reviewers
on April 19, 2022 at 6:47 am
Every one of our peer reviewers makes a significant contribution to great science. To celebrate those going above and beyond, each year our Lab on a Chip editorial team evaluates peer reviewers based ...
Insight: Lab on a chip
on October 11, 2018 at 9:58 pm
The ability to perform laboratory operations on small scales using miniaturized (lab-on-a-chip) devices has many benefits. Designing and fabricating such systems is extremely challenging ...
Diabetes 'lab-on-chip' start-up gets €2M EU cash
on April 17, 2017 at 12:20 am
The money is intended to speed up the development of the company’s lab-on-chip diabetes prevention and monitoring solution. The device provides onsite measurements of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c ...