Open AccessMicrofluidic cap-to-dispense (μCD): a universal microfluidic–robotic interface for automated pipette-free high-precision liquid handling
Author(s) -
Jingjing Wang,
Deng Ka,
Chuqing Zhou,
Zecong Fang,
Christina Meyer,
Kaustubh Deshpande,
Zhihao Li,
Xianqiang Mi,
Qian Luo,
Bruce D. Hammock,
Cheemeng Tan,
Yan Chen,
Tingrui Pan
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
lab on a chip
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.064
H-Index - 210
eISSN - 1473-0197
pISSN - 1473-0189
DOI - 10.1039/c9lc00622b
Subject(s) - microfluidics , pipette , interface (matter) , nanotechnology , volume (thermodynamics) , materials science , on demand , computer science , computer hardware , chemistry , engineering , chemical engineering , physics , pulmonary surfactant , gibbs isotherm , multimedia , quantum mechanics
Microfluidic devices have been increasingly used for low-volume liquid handling operations. However, laboratory automation of such delicate devices has lagged behind due to the lack of world-to-chip (macro-to-micro) interfaces. In this paper, we have presented the first pipette-free robotic-microfluidic interface using a microfluidic-embedded container cap, referred to as a microfluidic cap-to-dispense (μCD), to achieve a seamless integration of liquid handling and robotic automation without any traditional pipetting steps. The μCD liquid handling platform offers a generic and modular way to connect the robotic device to standard liquid containers. It utilizes the high accuracy and high flexibility of the robotic system to recognize, capture and position; and then using microfluidic adaptive printing it can achieve high-precision on-demand volume distribution. With its modular connectivity, nanoliter processability, high adaptability, and multitask capacity, μCD shows great potential as a generic robotic-microfluidic interface for complete pipette-free liquid handling automation.