SBIR Phase I: An Electrowetting Microfluidic Device for Bioassays

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project proposes to demonstrate the feasibility of an innovative approach to fabricating microfluidic devices for bioassays within a Micro Total Analytical System (`TAS) format. The device will be based on electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) technology, and will offer potential lower fabrication costs for numerous applications. The EWOD approach for microfluidics is to transport droplets, as opposed to continuous liquids, along an electronically programmable path on a large array of driving micropads, rather than through fixed microchannels. The EWOD mechanism is inherently effective for droplets, and appears well suited for open two dimensional microfluidic array applications, and use with physiological fluids. An EWOD microfluidic device will be capable of manipulating droplets of physiological fluids. Feasibility will be demonstrated by implementing a heterogeneous chemiluminescent immunoassay for ferritin in blood serum on an EWOD device. The main commercial application of this project will be in the area of medical diagnostics. Additional applications would include bioassays for homeland security and environmental monitoring and for sampling systems to support DNA and protein microarray assays.