Electroactive microfluidic devices

Figure 3. Microfluidic Device. (A) Time lapse illustrating repulsion the ejection of 1.9 pm fluorescent polystyrene microsphere particles from an electroactive microwell. After dissolution of the membrane, the fluorescent particles can be seen in the well. White hnes outline the gold electrodes features. Images are taken every 2 s (total of 10 s). (B) Schematic of the electroactive microwell drug delivery system developed here. Scale bar represents 2 mm. (C) Micro fluidic device with electrical leads connected to thin copper wires. Inset Magnified view of microchip from above looking at the region near the membrane. (D) To illustrate the electrokinetic transport processes involved in the ejection stage, a finite element analysis of time-dependent species transport of the system is shown. Images show cut view of species concentration every 60 s up to 300 s after the ejection process.

Heinemann et al. pioneered electrochemical immunoassays prior to the nanoparticle era [25]. His team s systems involve sandwich immunoassays using the enzyme label alkaline phosphatase which produces electroactive products that are transported by a chromatographic or fluidic system to an electrode detector [26,27]. Recent advances have interfaced this approach into microfluidic devices [28]. Interdigitated electrodes have provided the highest sensitivity [29]. 

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