Capstone Project

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Group 2017-1 Status completed
Title A High-Voltage Amplifier for Digital Microfluidics
Supervisor Steve Shih
Description Digital microfluidics (DMF) has emerged as a versatile liquid handling platform, having broad applicability notably in biology and chemistry. Recurrent limitations in these two fields include those of repetitive labor-intensive manual experiments, high reagent consumption leading to costly experiments, and low reproducibility due to human error. DMF is a novel technology enabling the control of individual droplets on an array of electrodes. In this liquid-handling technology, picoliter- to microliter-sized droplets can be addressed independently on an open array of electrodes coated with a hydrophobic layer. However, a major challenge for scientists to adopt this technology is the construction of an automation system. To move towards this adoption, students will (1) construct a high-voltage amplifier that is required for droplet movement on DMF devices. Furthermore, students will (2) design a software platform that will used to analyze the signals produced from the amplifier and use it to manipulate droplets on the DMF. Finally, the students will (3) use their design and culture bacterial cells that will be used for drug production.
Requirement Circuit theory; Software programming (MATLAB preferred)
Tools May need to purchase electronic components from Digikey. All other equipment is in my laboratory.
Number of Students 3
Students Uva,David Syutkin,Anatoly Al-Khoury,Andre
Comments: Email: steve.shih@concordia.ca
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