
Building Enabling Microfluidics Devices:
Microfabrication, Rapid Prototyping, 3D-Printing + Applications
Date: Tuesday, April 29, 2025 - Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Location: Atlanta
Confirmed Speakers

Bonnie Gray, Professor of Engineering Science, Simon Fraser University

Gregory Nordin, Professor, Brigham Young University

Joseph Potkay, Research Associate Professor, Surgery, University of Michigan
Clinical Research Engineer, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System

Noah Malmstadt, Professor, Mork Family Dept. of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science, University of Southern California

Roger Nassar, CEO, RAN Biotechnologies

Stefano Begolo, President, ALine Inc.

Victor Morel Cahoreau, Head of Sales, Eden Microfluidics

Christopher Easley, C. Dent Williams Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Auburn University

Ian Papautsky, Richard and Loan Hill Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois-Chicago

Mehmet Toner, Helen Andrus Benedict Professor of Biomedical Engineering, MGH/Harvard Medical School -- Conference Chairperson

Ravi Kapur, CEO, AutoIVF Inc., President, BendBio Inc., President, Boston Nanotechnology Inc.

Ryan Sochol, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Director, Bioinspired Advanced Manufacturing (BAM) Laboratory, University of Maryland, College Park

Steve Soper, Foundation Distinguished Professor, Director, Center of BioModular Multi-Scale System for Precision Medicine, The University of Kansas

Fatih Sarioglu, Associate Professor, Georgia Tech

Jing Chen, Founder & CEO, Hicomp Microtech

Nicolas Brillouet, CTO, Kloé

Robbyn K. Anand, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University

Shuichi Takayama, Professor, Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar, Georgia Institute of Technology

Tyler Ray, Assistant Professor, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Building Enabling Microfluidics Devices: Microfabrication, Rapid Prototyping, 3D-Printing + Applications 2025: Conference Overview
SelectBIO Building Enabling Microfluidics Devices: Microfabrication, Rapid Prototyping, 3D-Printing + Applications 2025 Conference brings together researchers and industry participants from both academia and industry focusing on technology and innovation in the Lab-on-a-Chip (LOAC) and Microfluidics fields.
Focus at this conference on development platforms and technologies for microfluidics device development and steps involved in design, testing and production of microfluidics devices across a number of applications areas.
We focus on LOAC device production technologies, novel designs/technologies for manufacture, as well as the key application areas for LOAC from research to diagnostics as well as 3D-bioprinting and the convergence of microfluidics technologies with biofabrication and 3D-printing as well as deployment of microfluidics technologies.
Running alongside the conference will be an exhibition covering the latest technological advances and associated products and services from leading solution providers within this field and offers an excellent venue for business development, marketing and sales opportunities.
**Conference Venue: Crowne Plaza Midtown Atlanta -- Sky East on 25th Floor of the Hotel**
Abstracts for Oral Presentations & Posters
You can also present your research in an oral presentation or via a poster while attending the conference.
Submit an abstract for consideration now via the Submissions Page of the Conference Website.
Oral Presentation Abstract Deadline: February 28, 2025
Poster Submission Deadline: April 18, 2025
Conference Agenda Topics
Methods for Microfluidics Device Development
Steps Involved in Microfluidics Device Design, Rapid Prototyping, Scale-Up & Manufacturing
Substrates for Microfluidics Devices: Glass, PDMS, etc.
Microfabrication Technologies for Microfluidics Devices Development
3D-Printing and its Convergence with the Microfluidics/Lab-on-a-Chip Field
Applications of Microfluidics Devices: Research, POCD, MPS Development
Sponsorship and Exhibition Opportunities
3 for 2 Offer on Delegate Registrations
SelectBIO are offering 3 Delegate Registrations for the price of 2 on all delegate passes. To take advantage of this offer, please contact us by email, phone or click the Contact Us button below. Looking for more than 3 Delegate Passes? Contact us for more information on our special rates for large groups.
Any questions or assistance during registration, please call us at: +1 (510) 857-4865 or e-mail us at: Contact SelectBIO
Gold Sponsors
Exhibitors
Sponsorship and Exhibition Opportunities
If you require any information about exhibiting or sponsoring at one of our events please contact Jeff Fan using the information below:
Jeff Fan
Exhibition Manager - SelectBIO Conferences
Why Exhibit/Sponsor at a SelectBIO Conference?
Specialists: SelectBIO doesn't organize conferences in shipping, accountancy, textiles etc. – just drug discovery and the life sciences. Many of our staff have bioscience qualifications and many years of experience. So, we speak your language and understand your needs.
Superior Customer Service: Our sales team will take care of you with specialist advice and customized packages. We don’t forget you after you sign on the bottom line either as our customer service dept. will alert you to all the things you need to think about up to and during the event itself.
Microfluidics Device Development & Utilization: Microfabrication, Rapid Prototyping & 3D-Printing 2025 Conference Venue
SelectBIO is delighted to host the Microfluidics Device Development & Utilization: Microfabrication, Rapid Prototyping & 3D-Printing 2025 Conference at the Crowne Plaza Atlanta Midtown.
Crowne Plaza Atlanta Midtown
590 West Peachtree Street, NW
Atlanta, GA, 30308 USA
**Conference Venue: Crowne Plaza Midtown Atlanta -- Sky East on 25th Floor of the Hotel**
Atlanta is served by the world's busiest airport (airport code: ATL) with direct flights from various destinations around the world.
Atlanta offers all the exciting opportunities of a modern big city with outstanding dining and a vibrant city atmosphere.
SelectBIO has negotiated discounted pricing for conference attendees at the Crowne Plaza Atlanta Midtown:
Single Room 129 USD per night
Double Room 129 USD per night
To make your Hotel Booking Online:
Please click the link below.
After opening the link, you should arrive on the hotel's main page.
After choosing the correct dates, you will see the SelectBIO group rate.
Please note that the link is not compatible with Internet explorer.
If you have questions or need to book a longer stay at the hotel, please e-mail Jeff Fan
To Make your Hotel Booking via Telephone:
Call the hotel at: +1-404-877-9000
Ask to speak with a reservation’s agent
Provide the booking agent your stay dates and the name of the block block code: BIO




For any hotel reservation-related issues, or if you need any help with hotel bookings, please contact:
Jeff Fan
Events Manager, SelectBIO Conferences
E-mail: Jeff@selectbioconferences.com
SelectBIO has NOT authorized ANY third party company to assist in hotel bookings or reservations for the conference. Please do NOT do business with any third party companies. If in doubt, please contact Jeff Fan immediately to clarify.
Register to this conference and also enjoy the following co-located events at no extra charge.
Training Courses
Introduction to Microfluidics Training Course
29 April 2025 from 19:00-21:00
Hotel Board Room

Shuichi Takayama, Professor, Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University School of Medicine
Introduction to Microfluidics Training Course
**A Training Course for Beginners and New Entrants into the Microfluidics Field**
This presentation will introduce basics of microfluidics.
• Topics include size scales of microfluidic devices and how that affect microscale fluid flows
• The evolution and different methods of microfluidic device fabrication
• Select biological applications including cellular, molecular, and exosome applications
• Some of the challenges and opportunities and future perspectives will also be discussed
• Time will also be reserved for questions and discussions
**This is an excellent course for new entrants seeking an immersion into the microfluidics field -- the course is taught by Professor Shu Takayama, a World Leader in the Lab-on-a-Chip and Microfluidics Field.**
If you would like to submit a proposal for an oral or poster presentation at this meeting, please fill out the form below required for your submission.
Successful applicants will be provided with all necessary information.
Abstract Content:
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Written in English
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Written in the third person
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Include title, name(s) and affiliation(s) of the authors
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Between 100 - 200 words
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Suitable for direct publication in the proceedings pack and on the website
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Related to the subject of the conference
Agenda Topics
Methods for Microfluidics Device Development
Steps Involved in Microfluidics Device Design, Rapid Prototyping, Scale-Up & Manufacturing
Substrates for Microfluidics Devices: Glass, PDMS, etc.
Microfabrication Technologies for Microfluidics Devices Development
3D-Printing and its Convergence with the Microfluidics/Lab-on-a-Chip Field
Applications of Microfluidics Devices: Research, POCD, MPS Development
Copyrights
The presenting author/person who submitted the abstract assumes full responsibility of the content of the abstract and we assume that all co-authors are aware of this content. Please note that your biography, summary and abstract may be used on this website and conference materials.
Bonnie Gray, Professor of Engineering Science, Simon Fraser University

Bonnie Gray Biographical Sketch
Dr. Bonnie L. Gray is a Professor in the School of Engineering Science (ENSC) at Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Canada, a Fraser Health Authority affiliated researcher, and on the board of the Vancouver Medical Device Development Center (MDDC). Dr. Gray has over 140 peer-reviewed journal and conference publications, and has given more than 30 invited, keynote, and plenary presentations at international conferences, in the areas of novel materials and fabrication techniques for biomedical and microfluidic devices and systems; development of flexible and wearable microfluidic and biosensor technologies; point-of-care instruments; and chip-based biological cell sorting and trapping methods. Dr. Gray is a dedicated mentor and the 2014 recipient of the SFU Dean of Graduate Studies Award for Excellence in Supervision. Dr. Gray was the Chapter Chair for the Vancouver IEEE Electron Devices Society (EDS) from 2007-2017, and organizer of two mini-colloquia in 2012 and 2017. She is on the Editorial Boards of PLOS One as well as the IOP Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering. She chaired the SPIE Conference on Microfluidics, BioMEMS, & Medical Microsystems from 2014-2024, and is a General co-Chair for IEEE Nano 2025. She is very active in organization and program committees for conferences sponsored by the IEEE Sensors and Nanotechnology Councils; and in EDI initiatives, including the IEEE Women in Electron Devices (WiEDS) Steering Committee and a member of Women of Wearables (WoW).
Christopher Easley, C. Dent Williams Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Auburn University

Christopher Easley Biographical Sketch
Christopher J. Easley is currently the C. Dent Williams Professor and Associate Department Chair of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Auburn University, and he is a Fellow with the Associate Dean of Research in the College of Sciences and Mathematics. He received his B.S. degree in chemistry at Mississippi State University in 2002 and his Ph.D. from the University of Virginia in 2006, under training from Prof. James P. Landers. His postdoctoral training was provided by Prof. David W. Piston at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics. He began his independent career at Auburn in 2008 and was promoted to full professor in 2018, where he teaches from fundamental courses through graduate level bioanalytical courses. Prof. Easley is currently the Vice President of the AES Electrophoresis Society, an Advisory Board member at the journal Analytical Methods, and a board member of the Boshell Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Research Program at Auburn University. He holds multiple U.S. patents based on biosensing and microfluidics, and he was awarded the 2019 Mid-Career Achievement Award by the AES Electrophoresis Society and the 2020 COSAM Dean’s Research Award at Auburn. The Easley laboratory has focused their customized analytical tools on real-world applications in clinical biosensing as well as on fundamental understanding of the dynamic function of adipose tissue, which is of paramount importance in diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome.
Fatih Sarioglu, Associate Professor, Georgia Tech

Fatih Sarioglu Biographical Sketch
A. Fatih Sarioglu is an Associate Professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He received the B.Sc. degree from Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Stanford University, all in Electrical Engineering. Dr. Sarioglu worked as a postdoctoral research associate at the Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering at Stanford University, and then, as a research fellow at the Center for Engineering in Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Dr. Sarioglu's research interests are at the interface of nano-/micro-engineering and biomedicine. He develops microchip-based cellular and molecular assays for cancer detection, point-of-care diagnostics and health monitoring. Dr. Sarioglu’s research was recognized by several awards including the Beckman Young Investigator Award, the National Science Foundation CAREER Award and the Department of Defense IDEA Award.
Gregory Nordin, Professor, Brigham Young University

Gregory Nordin Biographical Sketch
Professor Greg Nordin joined the faculty of the Electrical & Computer Engineering Department at Brigham Young University in 2005. From 1992 to 2005 he was at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) where he was the founding director of the university's Nano and Micro Devices Center, which was created as an independent research center by the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees. While director of the center, he created a 7,600 sq. ft. cleanroom facility for nano and microfabricated devices to pursue research activities in photonics, MEMS, microfluidics, and sensors. Prof. Nordin has led numerous large research programs, and has been principal investigator on research grants from government and industry totaling $18M. He is the recipient of the National Science Foundation CAREER award (1996) for promising young faculty, and twice received the UAH Outstanding Researcher Award as well as the UAH Foundation Award for Research and Creative Achievement. Prof. Nordin's current research is focused on developing 3D printing for microfluidic devices and applications. In March 2018 Prof. Nordin gave a TED talk on his group's work, which is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T122fzOEVYE.
Ian Papautsky, Richard and Loan Hill Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois-Chicago

Ian Papautsky Biographical Sketch
Ian Papautsky is the Richard and Loan Hill Professor in the biomedical engineering department. His lab focuses on using microfluidics to innovate blood analysis. Papautsky was one of the pioneers of the inertial microfluidics technology for label-free isolation and analysis of rare cells. His recent work has focused on applying this approach to the fractionation of blood, as well as capture and subsequent molecular profile analysis of circulating tumor cells for liquid biopsy. Papautsky is also co-director of the National Science Foundation Center for Advanced Design and Manufacturing of Integrated Microfluidics, an industry-university collaborative research center that fosters interactions between academics and businesses in the areas of medical devices, pharmacology, and precision agriculture. Papautsky joined the University of Illinois Chicago in 2016. He has been recognized with many awards and honors, including Ohio Bioscience 30 in Their 30s. He is fellow of the AIMBE and the RSC.
Jing Chen, Founder & CEO, Hicomp Microtech

Jing Chen Biographical Sketch
Dr. Jing Chen has amassed 28 years of expertise in Microfluidics, MEMS, and Manufacturing Engineering. He earned his PhD from Tsinghua University, furthered his research at the University of Michigan, and served as a tenured professor at Peking University for 16 years. In 2014, Dr. Chen founded HiComp, which specializes in microfluidic and lab-on-chip products for various industries. He has authored over 180 papers, 70 patents, and 6 books, making significant contributions to the field.
Joseph Potkay, Research Associate Professor, Surgery, University of Michigan, Clinical Research Engineer, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System

Joseph Potkay Biographical Sketch
Dr. Joseph Potkay received his Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan under the direction of MEMS pioneer Dr. Ken Wise in 2006. Since 2006, he has served as a research investigator at the Department of Veterans Affairs with the goal of bringing the huge potential of micro- and nano-technologies to bear on issues critical to the Veteran population. He additionally serves as research associate professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Michigan.
Dr. Potkay has 50+ peer-reviewed publications, eight patents, has presented his research at local, national, and international conferences, and has been interviewed by Public Radio, Nature Magazine, and CNN regarding his artificial lung research. He is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), and member of the Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS), the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs (ASAIO), and the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization. He serves or has served on the editorial boards of the Micromachines and ASAIO Journals and the EMBC and ASAIO conferences. His artificial lung research has been continuously funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs and NIH since 2007.
Mehmet Toner, Helen Andrus Benedict Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Harvard Medical School

Mehmet Toner Biographical Sketch
Mehmet Toner is the Helen Andrus Benedict Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Harvard Medical School, and Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology. Mehmet received a BS degree from Istanbul Technical University and an MS degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), both in Mechanical Engineering. Subsequently he completed his PhD degree in Medical Engineering at Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology in 1989. Mehmet is the co-founding Director of the Center for Engineering in Medicine, and BioMicroElectroMechanical Systems Resource Center (BMRC) at the MGH. He is also the Director of Research at the Shriners Hospital for Children Boston. Mehmet holds over 50 patents, has more than 350 publications, and is a co-founder of multiple biotechnology start-ups. Mehmet is a “Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering”, “Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers”, and “Fellow of the Society for Cryobiology.” In 2012, he was given the “Luyet Medal” by the Society for Cryobiology. In 2013, he received the “H.R. Lissner Medal” from the American Society of Mechanical Engineering. He is a member of the “National Academy of Inventors” and a member of the “National Academy of Engineering.”
Nicolas Brillouet, CTO, Kloé

Nicolas Brillouet Biographical Sketch
Nicolas Brillouet is from Occitania, France. He graduated from Montpellier University in 2000, before completing a first one-year industrial experience in L.I.L.T Canada, a North-American private company working in photonics industry. Then, he finally went back to France to work alongside Paul Coudray during his creation of KLOÉ company, in 2001. From there, first working as an engineer and then as a project manager, Nicolas finally became the CTO of Kloe company, before managing more recently all the Production activity of Kloe equipment range, with, from now on, a more than 24 years-experience in both industry and microfabrication techniques.
Noah Malmstadt, Professor, Mork Family Dept. of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science, University of Southern California

Noah Malmstadt Biographical Sketch
Noah Malmstadt is Professor at the University of Southern California. He received a BS in Chemical Engineering from Caltech and a PhD in Bioengineering from the University of Washington. Following postdoctoral work at UCLA, he joined the Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at USC in 2007. Malmstadt is the recipient of a 2012 Office of Naval Research Young Investigator award. His research focuses on microfluidic strategies to facilitate material fabrication and biophysical analysis. He has pioneered the integration of ionic liquids as solvents in droplet microreactors and the application of microfluidic systems to synthesizing biomimetic cell membranes. Microfluidic analytical techniques he has developed include methods for measuring the permeability of cell membranes to druglike molecules and techniques for measuring ionic currents through membrane proteins.
Ravi Kapur, CEO, AutoIVF Inc., President, BendBio Inc., President, Boston Nanotechnology Inc.

Ravi Kapur Biographical Sketch
CEO, AutoIVF Inc., Co-founder, and Director of BendBio Inc.,& SanSimeon Scientific co-founder of TellBio Inc. Invented, innovated and commercialized high throughput microfluidic systems for clinical medicine and life science. Passionate about solving big hairy problems with exceptional people.
Robbyn K. Anand, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University

Robbyn Anand Biographical Sketch
Robbyn K. Anand is the Suresh Faculty Fellow and Carlyle G. Caldwell Endowed Chair in Chemistry at Iowa State University where she joined the Department of Chemistry in August 2015. Her group has developed methods for circulating tumor cell analysis, electrokinetic enrichment and separation of chemical species within water-in-oil droplets, and label-free sensors based on surface conduction of ions.
Roger Nassar, CEO, RAN Biotechnologies

Roger Nassar Biographical Sketch
Dr. Roger Nassar is an accomplished chemist, biotechnologist, and entrepreneur with three decades of experience in synthetic and surface chemistry. He earned his Ph.D. in synthetic fluorine chemistry from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom. After postdoctoral training he began his career exploring the applications of synthetic materials in diverse areas such as microelectronics and biotechnology.
In 2012, drawing on his postdoctoral research in the chemistry and biology departments at MIT, Dr. Roger Nassar founded RAN Biotechnologies with a mission to develop and supply high-performance reagents and materials tailored for microfluidic applications and rapid microbe detection. Based in Beverly, Massachusetts, RAN Biotech has since grown into a trusted provider of advanced consumables and devices, serving a global customer base and earning citations in hundreds of scientific publications.
Dr. Nassar’s work focuses on the development and commercialization of smart micro- and nanomaterials and devices, with applications primarily in microfluidics. Under his leadership, RAN Biotech has become known for its innovation at the interface of chemistry, microfluidics, and biotechnology, offering flexible, research-driven solutions that enable scientists to miniaturize and streamline complex assays.
Ryan Sochol, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Director, Bioinspired Advanced Manufacturing (BAM) Laboratory, University of Maryland, College Park

Ryan Sochol Biographical Sketch
Prof. Ryan D. Sochol is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering within the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD). Prof. Sochol received his B.S. from Northwestern University, and both his M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to joining the faculty at UMD, Prof. Sochol served as: (i) an NIH Postdoctoral Trainee within the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences & Technology, Harvard Medical School, and Brigham & Women’s Hospital, (ii) Director of the Micro Mechanical Methods for Biology (M3B) Laboratory Program within the Berkeley Sensor & Actuator Center at UC Berkeley, and (iii) a Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Tokyo. In 2019, Prof. Sochol was elected Co-President of the Mid-Atlantic Micro/Nano Alliance. His group received IEEE MEMS Outstanding Student Paper Awards in both 2019 and 2021 and the Springer Nature Best Paper Award (Runner-Up) in 2022. Prof. Sochol received the NSF CAREER Award in 2020 and the Early Career Award from the IOP Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering in 2021, and was recently honored as an inaugural Rising Star by the journal, Advanced Materials Technologies, in 2023.
Shuichi Takayama, Professor, Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar, Georgia Tech

Shuichi Takayama Biographical Sketch
Prof. Shuichi Takayama’s research interests started with bioorganic synthesis at the University of Tokyo and Scripps Research Institute. Subsequently he pursued postdoctoral studies in bioengineered microsystems at Harvard University as a Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Fellow. He spent 17 years at the University of Michigan in the Biomedical Engineering Department and Macromolecular Science and Engineering Program, then moved to the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory School of Medicine in the summer of 2017. He is an associate editor of Integrative Biology and recipient of the Pioneers of Miniaturization Prize.
Stefano Begolo, President, ALine Inc.

Stefano Begolo Biographical Sketch
Dr. Stefano Begolo, PhD, PMP, EMBA, is the President of ALine Inc., where he leads the commercialization of microfluidic technologies through product development and pilot manufacturing. He holds a B.S. and M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Padua (Italy) and earned his Ph.D. in Physics from Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris VI) in 2011. His doctoral research focused on droplet microfluidics for DNA and protein detection, as well as innovative technologies for microfluidic device fabrication. At the California Institute of Technology, Dr. Begolo played a key role in developing instrument-free platforms for point-of-care diagnostics, leveraging 3D printing and the patented SlipChip technology. He is the co-author of twelve peer-reviewed publications, five patents, and multiple patent applications.
Steve Soper, Foundation Distinguished Professor, Director, Center of BioModular Multi-Scale System for Precision Medicine, The University of Kansas

Steve Soper Biographical Sketch
Prof. Soper is currently a Foundation Distinguished Professor in Chemistry and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Kansas, Lawrence. Prof. Soper also holds an appointment at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology in Ulsan, South Korea, where he is a World Class University Professor. He is also serving as a Science Advisor for a number of major worldwide companies. Prof. Soper is currently on the Editorial Board for Scientific Reports and Journal of Micro- and Nanosystems.
As a result of his efforts, Prof. Soper has secured extramural funding totaling >$123M and has published over 265 peer-reviewed manuscripts (h index = 73) and is the author of 20 patents. He is also the founder of a startup company, BioFluidica, which is marketing devices for the isolation and enumeration of circulating tumor cells. His list of awards includes Chemical Instrumentation by the American Chemical Society, the Benedetti-Pichler Award for Microchemistry, Fellow of the AAAS, Fellow of Applied Spectroscopy, Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, R&D 100 Award, Distinguished Masters Award at LSU and Outstanding Scientist/Engineer in the state of Louisiana in 2001. Finally, Prof. Soper has granted 62 PhDs and 7 MS degrees to students under his mentorship. He currently heads a group of 20 researchers.
Tyler Ray, Assistant Professor, University of Hawaii at Manoa

Tyler Ray Biographical Sketch
Tyler Ray is currently an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He received his BS and MS in mechanical engineering from the University of South Carolina and his PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Ray received his postdoctoral training as a fellow at Northwestern University in the Rogers Research Group. Ray is a recipient of the National Science Foundation CAREER award (2023) and is currently an NIH COBRE research project leader. Professor Ray’s research focus is at the intersection of materials science, additive manufacturing, and wearable sensors.
Victor Morel Cahoreau, Head of Sales, Eden Microfluidics

Victor Morel Cahoreau Biographical Sketch
Victor is the Head of Eden a at Eden Tech, specializing in microfluidic solutions that transform research and manufacturing. He holds three Master’s degrees in Numerical Simulation, Microfluidics, and Complex Physics, equipping him with a strong technical foundation in fluid dynamics, modeling, and advanced fabrication techniques. His expertise spans from microfluidic design to scalable production methods, making him a key advocate for innovative, accessible, and high-performance microfluidic technologies. At Eden Material, he plays a pivotal role in business development, forging strategic partnerships, and expanding the adoption of cutting-edge solutions in the microfluidics community.
08:00
29 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor
Conference Registration, Materials Pick-Up, Coffee and Networking
09:00
29 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor
Conference Chairperson

Mehmet Toner, Helen Andrus Benedict Professor of Biomedical Engineering, MGH/Harvard Medical School, USA -- Conference Chairperson
Welcome and Introduction by Conference Chairperson and Current Status and Trends in Enabling Microfluidics Devices Development
09:30
29 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor
Keynote Presentation

Steve Soper, Foundation Distinguished Professor, Director, Center of BioModular Multi-scale System for Precision Medicine, The University of Kansas, United States of America
Plastic-based Microfluidics: From Prototyping to Production
Delivery of microfluidic devices, especially for those associated with clinical measurements, must go through several steps prior to delivery to the clinical market. These include prototyping through an iterative process to home in on a device concept optimal for the intended application, medium scale production for testing to secure the analytical and clinical figures-of-merit, and finally large scale production for commercial dissemination. In this presentation, I will present the fabrication techniques used to move through the production pipeline using thermoplastics as the substrate of choice for generating microfluidic devices for in vitro diagnostics. Fabrication techniques that will be discussed for prototyping include high precision micromilling that has a device turnaround time < 1 day and is a maskless process not requiring a cleanroom. Excimer laser machining will also be discussed. In terms of medium scale production, micromilling of embossing tools and the use of hot-embossing will be discussed as a methodology for medium scale production to produce devices appropriate for securing the necessary figures-of-merit. Finally, I will discuss the use of photolithography and Ni electroplating to form mold inserts for the high-scale production of devices for commercial applications using injection molding. I will also discuss appropriate assembly processes that can be implemented to generate finished devices containing cover plates with high process yield rates. I will also discuss surface modification strategies that can be implemented on plastic devices to allow for increasing surface wettability as well as attaching functional biomolecules to the surfaces required for the intended application. Finally, I will show some examples of plastic devices that went through this production pipeline for clinical measurements, such as the processing of liquid biopsy markers.
10:00
29 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor
Mid-Morning Coffee Break and Networking
10:30
29 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor
Keynote Presentation

Shuichi Takayama, Professor, Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar, Georgia Institute of Technology, United States of America
Lung Microphysiological Systems
This presentation will describe efforts in our lab to develop lung microphysiological systems (MPSs). The talk will start with microfluidic small airway models that combine in-channel air-liquid interface culture with liquid plug propagation and rupture under conditions of surfactant dysfunction. Novel fluidic switching mechanisms for lung-on-a-chip applications will also be described. For higher-throughput studies, Transwell-96 based air-blood barriers model will be described that facilitates virus infections studies and also promises to accelerate studies of inhalation toxicity on lung inflammation. Finally, development and use of Airway Organoids with Reversed Biopolarity (AORBs) in 384 well plate single-organoid-per-well format drug testing for SARS-CoV-2 drugs will be described.
11:00
29 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor
Keynote Presentation

Ryan Sochol, Associate Professor, University of Maryland, College Park, United States of America
Two-Photon Direct Laser Writing Strategies for 3D Microfluidic Technologies
Additive manufacturing—or three-dimensional (3D) printing—has gained significant traction within the microfluidics community as a means to fabricate sophisticated system architectures that are challenging or impossible to produce using conventional microfabrication methods. Among the most promising 3D manufacturing technologies is Direct Laser Writing (DLW), which uses two-photon (or multiphoton) polymerization phenomena to achieve high geometric versatility and rapid print speeds at length scales down to the 100 nm range. In this Keynote Presentation, Prof. Ryan D. Sochol will discuss how his Bioinspired Advanced Manufacturing (BAM) Laboratory is leveraging DLW for emerging microfluidic applications, including: (1) microneedle technologies for embryo and brain microinjections, (2) 3D organ-on-a-chip systems, and (3) soft microrobotic surgical instruments for endovascular interventions.
11:30
29 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor

Jing Chen, Founder & CEO, Hicomp Microtech, United States of America and China
Advancing PDMS Fabrication: Innovations in Mold Technology and High-Volume Production
Explore cutting-edge advancements in PDMS mold technologies—from traditional multi-layer SU-8 molds and innovative 3D-printed and metal mold solutions to specialized mold designs that enable reliable, high-volume PDMS manufacturing. This talk will highlight practical strategies, services, and cost structures for transitioning your PDMS devices seamlessly from laboratory prototypes to mass-produced clinical and diagnostic products.
12:00
29 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor
Networking Lunch
13:29
29 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor
Session Sub-Title: Building Microfluidics Devices -- Materials, Methodologies and Platforms
Chairperson: Professor Noah Malmstadt, USC
13:30
29 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor

Fatih Sarioglu, Associate Professor, Georgia Institute of Technology, United States of America
Digital Microfluidic Devices for Multi-Modal Cell Phenotyping
Microfluidic devices are very attractive for analysis of biological samples due to their unique capabilities ranging from highly localized and deterministic cell manipulation to integration with highly sensitive micromachined sensors/actuators. As such, differences in various biomarkers including biophysical (i.e., size, density, electrical permittivity, stiffness) and biochemical (surface antigen expression) properties among cells can be used to effectively detect a subpopulation of interest with these devices. However, while highly effective in discriminating cells, microfluidic devices often lack an on-chip readout and require a benchtop instrument such as a flow cytometer, optical microscope or a mass spectrometer in the downstream for actionable quantitative data. The reliance on external instruments negates the portability and cost benefits of these devices and limits their translation for use in point-of-need settings, where they can be truly transformative.
In this talk, I will present microfluidic devices with built-in electrical sensor networks that perform high-throughput physical and chemical measurements by digitally monitoring the trajectory of every individual cell under test. Specifically, we create a network of coded Coulter counters distributed across a microfluidic chip by micromachining the electrodes in distinct shapes. In our assays, the microfluidic structure acts to spatially map each cell based on a parameter of interest (not limited to a parameter that can be measured electrically), while the electronic sensor array quantifies subpopulation fractions by detecting individual cells at strategic locations on the microfluidic chip. Moreover, by designing the Coulter counters to produce mathematically distinguishable digital signals, we compress on-chip cell manipulation data into an electrical waveform, substantially eliminating the instrumentation complexity and data redundancy associated with microscopy imaging.
14:00
29 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor

Nicolas Brillouet, CTO, Kloé, France
Microfluidics and Mask-Aligner: How to Make the Right Choice?
Mask-aligners have been used for decades as key technological equipments to manufacture microchips, in particular in semiconductor industry. More recently, these equipments, historically based on the use of mercury lamps as the UV-source, have also been considered as relevant systems to enable the fabrication of chips in microfluidics (molds / PDMS casting, Lab On a Chip, Organ on A Chip…) in particular thanks to the cost effective use of plastic/flexible photomasks (before considering the use of chrome photomasks to achieve higher resolution). However, the use of mercury lamps, that was already very energy consuming, is also now worldwidely compromised in a very near future by considering the global ban of using mercury in fluorescent lighting (Minamata Convention on Mercury) that entered into force in 2017, and that has been ratified by 140 countries, while the last use exemptions remain presently in effect later by 2027. Without waiting for this recent decision dedicated to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury, our company KLOE SAS introduced UV-KUB3 on the market since 2015 as the very first range of UV-LED based mask-aligners and this presentation highlights the major advantages of using this range of innovative lithography equipments as the new generation of mask-aligners.
14:30
29 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor
Mid-Afternoon Coffee Break and Networking
14:59
29 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor
Session Sub-Title: 3D-Printing in Microfluidics
15:00
29 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor
Keynote Presentation

Gregory Nordin, Professor, Brigham Young University, United States of America
Mastering Microscale Fabrication: Multi-Resolution 3D Printing for Advanced Microfluidic Devices
Realizing the full potential of 3D printing for microfluidic device fabrication requires achieving feature sizes in the truly microfluidic regime (<100 μm), a task complicated by the dominance of negative space features that impose unique resolution demands compared to the positive features typical in conventional 3D printing. To address this, we have developed custom Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D printers and tailored materials optimized for high-resolution microfluidics. In this presentation, we explore two pivotal innovations. First, we introduce a generalized 3D printing approach that expands the parameter space for high-resolution microfluidics without requiring proportional increases in physical resolution. We demonstrate this with a test print featuring 1,600 valves, showcasing solutions like miniaturized valves with active areas as small as 15 μm x 15 μm and isoporous membranes with 7 μm pores. Second, we present a multi-resolution 3D printing technique that achieves dual resolution scales across all three dimensions. This method enables rapid fabrication by using a lower-resolution optical engine for the bulk of the device, while a higher-resolution engine targets select regions needing extreme resolution. We highlight its effectiveness with examples, including a high-surface-area triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structure integrated into a microfluidic channel and an ultra-compact mixer (0.0017 mm³). These advancements illustrate how 3D printing can be a transformative tool for microfluidic fabrication.
15:30
29 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor

Christopher Easley, C. Dent Williams Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Auburn University, United States of America
Pneumatic Circuit Modeling and Design for Plug-and-Play Microfluidic Flow Control
It has long been recognized that electrical circuit models can be used to describe the operation of microfluidic circuits under laminar flow. For pneumatic, valve-control circuits and microfluidic applications, these analogies are useful, although air compressibility can introduce deviations in practice. A significant bottleneck between design and implementation of these pneumatics to real-world applications has been the need for device fabrication through standard photolithography, which is a time-consuming process with low design iteration throughput. In this work, inexpensive resin-based 3D printers (US $600-800) were used to rapidly design and prototype pneumatic and microfluidic circuits, removing the lithography-based bottleneck. Modular circuit designs included single- or multiple- valve packages, resistors, capacitors, tubing interfaces, T-junctions, vacuum manifolds, fluidic channels, droplet generators, pumps, and mixers. With plug-and-play connectors, these elements could be easily connected or disconnected, allowing various complex configurations such as oscillators (0.5 – 120 Hz operation), delay buffers (20 – 150 ms timing), and custom pneumatic logic circuits to reshape pulse signals. These pneumatic circuits can be used without any software or electrical control, using only a single vacuum input, providing autonomous control over applications such as droplet generation or mixing for biosensors. In one example, multiple valves (aqueous and oil) are triggered with custom timing, allowing automatic and cyclic gating of a sample droplet, an oil spacer, a reference droplet, and another oil spacer. These ordered steps are used in our devices for adipose tissue secretion sampling at high temporal resolution. In this presentation, pneumatic circuits and their microfluidic applications will be discussed from the modeling stage using simple circuit analogies, through design, to the final applications that include the aforementioned droplet devices as well as mixers for electrochemical sensors. We envision a variety of other applications, such as autonomous control of tissue-on-a-chip microdevices, could be made accessible to non-experts in this way.
16:00
29 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor

Joseph Potkay, Research Associate Professor, Surgery, University of Michigan, Clinical Research Engineer, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, United States of America
Toward Therapeutic, 3D Printed, Microfluidic Artificial Lungs
This presentation will cover our progress toward developing and characterizing a high resolution and biocompatible polydimethylsiloxane 3D printing resin and its use to create therapeutic microfluidic artificial lungs.
16:30
29 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor

Noah Malmstadt, Professor, Mork Family Dept. of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science, University of Southern California, United States of America
Modular Design Workflows for 3D Printed Microfluidics
3D printing brings with it a plethora of advantages for microfluidic applications. Principle among these are rapid prototyping, iterative design, and the ability to avoid the cost and overhead of cleanrooms. However, there is also an inherent advantage in being able to design and build devices in a truly three-dimensional, rather than layer-by-layer, geometry. One simple domain in which the advantages of true 3D routing are clear is in mixing. Control over a 3D geometry allows for multiple complex mixing configurations--herringbones, relamination mixers, chaotic advection--to be trivially constructed and recombined.
We have used these principles of 3D design to construct devices and systems for bioanalytical assays, for manufacturing biomaterials, and for industrial-scale manufacturing of novel materials. This talk will examine all of these applications and the manner in which 3d-centric microfluidic design can enable them.
17:00
29 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor

Stefano Begolo, President, ALine Inc., United States of America
Integrating Mixed Manufacturing Techniques for Microfluidic Commercialization: Strategies and Best Practices
The commercialization of microfluidic products requires integrating diverse components made from different materials and fabrication techniques. This process demands advanced fabrication and assembly methods that enhance performance while minimizing production costs. In this presentation, we will explore effective strategies for product development and scaling microfluidic technologies. Through real-world examples, we will share best practices for overcoming challenges in development and transitioning to high-volume manufacturing.
17:30
29 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor

Roger Nassar, CEO, RAN Biotechnologies, United States of America
Breaking Barriers in Microfluidics: New Tools, Smarter Materials
Micro- and nanomaterials, along with portable devices, are transforming the scientific landscape—empowering researchers both in the lab and in the field. From next-generation sequencing and single-cell analysis to environmental monitoring and resource management, cutting-edge science depends on cutting-edge tools.
At RAN Biotechnologies, our team of scientists, technologists, and innovators is dedicated to developing smart, accessible solutions that enable and accelerate discovery. In this presentation, Dr. Nassar will provide an overview of RAN Biotech’s mission and current initiatives, followed by highlights of recent advancements including:
PFAS-free reagents for droplet microfluidics
Porous, compressible gel beads for biological assays
Simplified and versatile microfluidic devices designed to lower barriers to adoption
Together, these innovations aim to make microfluidic and analytical technologies more efficient, customizable, and accessible across a wide range of applications.
18:00
29 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor
Networking Reception with Beer and Wine -- View Posters and Engage with the Exhibitors
19:00
29 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor
Close of Day 1 Main Conference Programming
19:15
29 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor

Shuichi Takayama, Professor, Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar, Georgia Institute of Technology, United States of America
Introduction to Microfluidics Training Course Presented by Professor Shu Takayama, Professor, Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar, Georgia Institute of Technology
**This course is open to all conference attendees and included with your conference registration**
21:15
29 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor
Close of Day 1 of the Conference
08:00
30 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor
Morning Coffee and Networking in the Exhibit Hall
08:55
30 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor
Session Sub-Title: Applications of Enabling Microfluidics Devices -- Wearable Devices
09:00
30 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor

Tyler Ray, Assistant Professor, University of Hawaii at Manoa, United States of America
Hybrid Manufacturing Strategies for Wearable Microfluidics
Recent advances in epidermal microfluidic systems have demonstrated capabilities for capturing, routing, and analyzing biomarkers in sweat to assess an individual’s health status without the need for blood sampling. These platforms, while analytically powerful, have traditionally relied on multi-step cleanroom processing techniques that constrain both design possibilities and deployment. Here, we describe our work in developing an alternative approach based on stereolithographic (SLA) 3D printing that enables rapid prototyping of soft, skin-compatible microfluidic networks with fully three-dimensional architectures. This methodology reduces fabrication time to minutes rather than days, while simultaneously expanding the accessible design space to include features such as spatially-graded channel geometries, integrated passive valving structures, and hierarchical reservoir systems—all within a single monolithic fabrication step. We demonstrate further capabilities by combining these printed constructs with direct laser-writing of graphene-based electrodes, yielding hybrid devices that merge fluidic handling with electrochemical sensing modalities.
09:30
30 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor

Bonnie Gray, Professor of Engineering Science, Simon Fraser University, Canada
Rapid Prototyping of Functional Materials for Microfluidic, Biosensor and Wearable Devices
The performance of many microfluidic, biosensor and wearable devices is intricately intertwined with the materials employed to fabricate them. Functional nanomaterials facilitate devices and instruments with new principles of operation, improved performance, or improved portability. One area of focus is the development of highly flexible polymer composites with different functionalities, such as being magnetic and/or conductive, and their application to microfluidics, biomedical microelectromechanical systems (BioMEMS), and wearable devices. We investigate how such materials can be designed and patterned using inexpensive rapid prototyping methods in order to improve the performance of small actuators for microfluidics devices; to develop highly flexible and wearable biosensors and sensor systems; and to perform other functionality, such as light-activated antimicrobial activity against bacterial and viral pathogens; or gas sensing.
10:00
30 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor

Victor Morel Cahoreau, Head of Sales, Eden Microfluidics, France
Revolutionizing Microfluidics with Eden Material: From Design to Production
Eden Material is at the forefront of innovation in microfluidics, providing solutions that streamline the entire process from design to production. Our technologies, including FLUI'DEVICE for intuitive microfluidic design, FLUI'MOLD for high-resolution mold fabrication, and Flexdym, our alternative to PDMS, address key challenges faced by researchers and engineers. By offering seamless integration between software, materials, and fabrication techniques, we enable cost-effective, scalable, and high-performance microfluidic development. This presentation will explore how Eden Material’s ecosystem accelerates research, enhances reproducibility, and opens new possibilities for biomedical, diagnostic, and industrial applications.
10:30
30 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor
Mid-Morning Coffee Break and Networking
11:10
30 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor
Session Sub-Title: Emerging Applications of Enabling Microfluidics Devices
11:15
30 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor

Ravi Kapur, CEO, AutoIVF Inc., President, BendBio Inc., President, Boston Nanotechnology Inc., United States of America
Scaled Microfluidics in Clinical Medicine
A 20 year journey to make Microfluidics mainstream in Clinical Medicine- the science, the scale, the people, the heartbreaks, and the breakthrough moments.
11:45
30 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor

Ian Papautsky, Richard and Loan Hill Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois-Chicago, United States of America
Microfluidics for Whole Blood Liquid Biopsy
Microfluidic devices based on inertial focusing have garnered significant attention for blood fractionation and liquid biopsy applications due to due to their label-free nature. Nevertheless, these devices often exhibit complexity, limited throughput, and dependence on sample dilution, posing challenges for deployment in clinics. The talk will explore our strategies to address these issues, aiming to develop platforms capable of label-free separation from unmodified whole blood. Comparative analysis with commercial systems will be discussed and applications in clinical studies will be highlighted.
12:15
30 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor

Robbyn K. Anand, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, United States of America
Parallel Selective Capture of Single Circulating Melanoma Cells and Functional Analysis
Understanding and measuring cell-to-cell differences will allow many critical needs in human health to be addressed. This is true because a minority of cells with a distinct phenotype can drive both normal function and disease states. Existing platforms that provide resolution at the single-cell level are limited in the nature and number of endpoints that can be measured. Adding to this challenge is the fact that clinical samples often comprise a mixture of cell types, and the methods utilized for isolating cells of interest can compromise cell viability and function. As a consequence, the selection process further limits accessible endpoints that examine native function – such as cell signaling, drug response, or cell-cell interactions. There is therefore a need for methods that maintain cell viability and preserve phenotypic characteristics for downstream assays. We have developed a method for integrated selection, fluidic isolation, optional lysis and assay of single cells in parallel in a unified platform that is sufficiently simple to be adopted broadly. This device captures cells by dielectrophoresis (DEP) at an array of wireless bipolar electrodes (BPEs) aligned to picoliter-scale chambers. We have further quantified its selectivity in the isolation of circulating melanoma cells (CMCs), which lack reliable markers for isolation by prevailing methods. In this presentation, we discuss advancements to this DEP-BPE platform that expand its capabilities. First, we leverage the BPEs as electrochemical sensors and as substrates for in situ formation of microstructures by electro-polymerization. Second, we report an insulator DEP (iDEP) version of this platform that enhances cell viability by preventing cell-electrode contact. Finally, we demonstrate discrimination of melanoma cells that exhibit resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. In concert, these methods allow for selective individual isolation of viable cells in parallel for subsequent sensing or molecular assays.
12:45
30 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor
Networking Lunch
13:45
30 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor
Round-Table Discussion: Challenges and Opportunities in the Development of Novel & Enabling Microfluidics Devices
Chaired by Professor Mehmet Toner, Helen Andrus Benedict Professor of Biomedical Engineering, MGH/Harvard Medical School -- Conference Chairperson
14:29
30 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor
Session Sub-Title: Short Talks from Submitted Abstracts
14:30
30 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor
Julio Rivera-De Jesus, Purdue University, United States of America
Cyclic Olefin Polymer (COP) for Optical Molecular Detection at the Point-of-Care
Microfluidic point-of-care diagnostics facilitate rapid, lab-free assays near the patient. Previously, thermally bonded cyclic olefin polymer (COP) chips effectively detected Vibrio cholerae DNA from pond water within 45 minutes using smartphone-based Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) and particle diffusometry (PD). PD measures target DNA by tracking reductions in Brownian motion of fluorescent beads, indicating DNA amplification. COP's optical clarity is vital but challenging to maintain during bonding. This study compared four COP bonding methods—thermal, solvent, UV glue, and pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA)—to optimize optical transparency for fluorescence-based PD assays. Thermal bonding used a hydraulic press at 120°C, solvent bonding involved decahydronaphthalene treatment followed by hot-pressing, PSA utilized double-sided adhesive, and UV bonding combined room-temperature curing with subsequent heating. Image analysis of Vibrio cholerae assays showed that thermal, solvent, and PSA methods maintained adequate clarity with fluorescence intensities of 13–50, whereas UV bonding produced poor optical quality and inconsistent fluorescence due to evaporation issues. This work identifies reliable COP bonding methods ensuring consistent assay performance, thus providing essential guidelines for quality control in PD-based diagnostic devices.
14:50
30 April 2025
Sky East 25th Floor
Joanne Seow, Auburn University, United States of America
Autonomous Droplet Volume Control with 3D Printed Pneumatic Pulse Timers without Electrical Power
Droplet microfluidics enables handling sub-nanoliter to microliter volumes, finding varied applications in biology and chemistry. The precision and accuracy of droplet volume control can be improved using on-chip valves, but this requires increased cost and complexity of the control systems. Here, we leverage digital circuit analogies to develop pneumatic circuits for autonomous droplet control. The circuits use combinations of NOT and NAND gates to control droplet sizes on a 3D-printed droplet generating device. All parts are printed modularly, and plug-and-play tube interfacing allows fast customization of circuits. Droplet sizes are controlled without any electrical systems, using only the actuation timing of the pneumatic circuit with three NOT gates (clock); twelve NOT gates (delay buffer); four NAND gates (XOR); and one NAND and one NOT gate (AND). The clock oscillator operates autonomously, the buffer functions as a delay timer, and the XOR and AND computations allow selection of buffer outputs for precise and accurate control of the pulse timer (20-150 ms). This autonomous can be programmed to form 12-40 nL droplets with 1 nL precision by simply changing the input of the XOR gate manually. These pneumatic designs are highly adaptable and should be useful for various other automations in microfluidics.