Programmable Control of Nanoliter Droplet Arrays Using Membrane Displacement Traps

A unique droplet microfluidic technology enabling programmable deterministic control over complex droplet operations is presented. The platform provides software control over user-defined combinations of droplet generation, capture, ejection, sorting, splitting, and merging sequences to enable the design of flexible assays employing nanoliter-scale fluid volumes. The system integrates a computer vision system with an array of membrane displacement traps capable of performing selected unit operations with automated feedback control. Sequences of individual droplet handling steps are defined through a robust Python-based scripting language. Bidirectional flow control within the microfluidic chips is provided using an H-bridge channel topology, allowing droplets to be transported to arbitrary trap locations within the array for increased operational flexibility. By enabling automated software control over all droplet operations, the system significantly expands the potential of droplet microfluidics for diverse biological and biochemical applications by combining the functionality of robotic liquid handling with the advantages of droplet-based fluid manipulation.

Automated summary

A unique droplet microfluidic technology is presented, which allows programmable deterministic control over complex droplet operations. The system integrates computer vision with a membrane displacement traps array, enabling automated feedback control. Bidirectional flow control is achieved using an H-bridge channel topology, increasing operational flexibility. Overall, this technology combines the advantages of droplet-based fluid manipulation with robotic liquid handling, significantly expanding the potential for diverse biological and biochemical applications.