Abstract: Advancing Microfluidics
Microfluidics technology has become in recent years a powerful innovation driver with many examples of successful products already in the market. Microfluidics is proven an enabling technology in a wide variety of applications such as life sciences instruments and in vitro diagnostic devices. Some ground-breaking examples include organ-on-a-chip systems and Point-Of-Care-Testing devices, which have starred a pivotal role in fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mixing various liquids (e.g., samples and reagents) is a prevalent operation. Mixing in the miniaturized dimensions of microfluidic circuits is, however, a major challenge since turbulence is suppressed. As a result of the distinctive laminar behaviour exhibited by liquids at the microscale, diffusion is the only mechanism by which liquids can mix, a process that is too slow to rely on.